OpenAI’s CEO and CTO on AI Transforming Work (Job Loss)

Question by Nyariana Maiko Chief Information Officer at the Port of Long Beach on job automation.

In a discussion at WSJ Tech Live 2023, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and CTO Mira Murati, in response to Nyariana Maiko Chief Information Officer at the Port of Long Beach's concerns about job automation's impact, underscore the importance of not just providing a universal basic income (UBI), but also emphasizes the importance of making AI accessible and involving people in shaping the future, stressing the necessity for societal preparation and individual agency in navigating the forthcoming transitions.

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[christianbohm]

"Some of you May Die, But it's a Sacrifice I am Willing to Make." Lord Farquaad

[joao_belmont]

In other words "we´re doing this, whether you like it or not. And it´s your responsibility to get used to it really really really fast.: And btw, it[s really really easy for Sam to say he's not afraid. But not everyone has millions and millions in the bank and a mansion-bunker.

[jaqsro]

Mira: temperature configuration set too high, hallucinates.
Sam's translation: "You might want to look for other opportunities because our shit is going to shake up the job market, and that's okay by me (since I'm already rich lol). I have no idea how to handle it, though...Your problem. Good luck, folks."

[chriss]

Companies aren't going to keep the same headcount and pay the same salary for 4 hour work days. They're going to half their headcount to keep 8 hour work days and cut half of their salary payouts by doing that lol.

[redmn]

she didn't even answer the question

[Garden]

Amazing how egos blind people. We have millions of years of evolution of people needing a purpose, the changes that came about from commercial computers evolved over 30 years, and even then only provided a new tool, but that saw depression come in through loss of purpose for many, when our children leave the nest depression sets in (loss of purpose), when we reach retirement we lose purpose (depression sets in) AI will bring about the loss of purpose for almost everyone, because AI will be the first time something is introduced that is better than humans in almost every way, and over night millions of years of evolution will strip away billions of peoples purpose, no direction, no reason, let there be no mistake, there will be mass depression. A recent test came from Covid, people were forced to stay at home and got money, and depression happened, but even then people could see a road, they could work from home, they could see an end to Covid, ways around it, the sudden rise of AI will strip away 99% of peoples purpose. If these people ARE intelligent, then they would see this clear as day and they would be open and honest about it, and it needs that openness, and if they aren’t openly discussing it, they are either stupid, or driven by their egos. My guess, there are a lot of egos at the forefront of AI, god help us.

[ccwoodlands]

I worry about my grandsons and what they will do for a job 20 years from now. It’s TOTAL BS to say people will only work 4 hours a day. If they do, they will get paid crapola.

[markistheone]

BS jobs will die. There’s absolutely no way around it. One well trained prompt engineer will handle 20 BS jobs while watching YouTube and checking his crypto trading.

[marmantole]

I’m glad it’s fine with him. He’s not at risk of losing his income. For the rest of us…?

[knowledgeapplied]

*'We don't exactly know the scale or trajectory* of what we're doing or about to unleash, but we're still going to do it anyway.' -- Open AI Exec

[efexzium]

It’s the end of jobs for most people this guys don’t give a dam
They’re just enjoying they’re yachts 🛥️ and mansions

[senju]

In Japan, the culture is different. Most workers do not leave to go home UNTIL their boss leaves first. Even if the gov encourages for people to leave early or reduce days, it will not work. In my previous company they would auto dim the lights around 10:00 pm but people would STILL not go home. I say this because Japan work culture will not allow such flex changes. Either the Company stops or keep it as is. It will be interesting how companies here will adjust due to the work culture here.

[neurojitsu]

The issue Altman wilfully ignores is what exactly constitutes a "contribution" and to whom, sidestepping the question with no challenge from the WSJ.

Altman has put it out in public that his "theme" in his career has been all about "scaling things". Which should be a warning sign to anyone concerned at the risk of repeating the mistakes of the social media big tech era, which so many AI leaders claim they want to avoid. So far, they seem just as willing to "move fast and break things" as Zuckerberg used to say (before that became an uncool thing to admit).

Since the Industrial Revolution, economic and technological advancement has led to a great deal of shared societal progress that has sustained the capitalist sytem via the motivational force of meritocracy.

But meritocracy has been breaking down, and my fear is AI is not a mere technological innovation but is a kind of second wave of techno-capitalism, ie a re-writing of the capitalist rules in code. First we had big data capitalism via social media and web search monetisation of attention. Now the very idea of labour is being dismantled, and it's not clear what will replace the concept of "work" through which the vast majority of people sustain their livelihood. And this is happening - as Altman nearly admits - at a pace that allows no time even to understand what's coming, let alone plan for it.

What happens should the median per capita income start to drop like a rock as Altman is indirectly warning may happen as work disappears at a faster than ever pace? Okay, maybe he's just hyping up his stock price to get the trillions of investment capital he's trying to raise. But how is it possible that the WSJ is not interested in the economics of an AI-fueled 'growth' engine when the man that started the trend is sat in front of them?

Not only did Altman have no answer other than to say with a nearly straight face, 'not my problem, but I'll be okay so I'm fine with this', but the moderator didn't even ask the obvious questions or push for clearer answers.

[godson]

I am hearing that AI can be disruptive and helpful. But who will it disrupt and who will benefit the most? The are basic questions in which a hypothesis stands on. Agreed that we as humans will adapt, but the clarity in which how to do so is quite translucently explained. People who build these technologies understand this fundamental hypothesis, "if we create this, what are the pros and cons, and of those who will stand to benefit and who will become obsolete?

[zigcorvetti]

OMFG.. she asks all these important questions about humanity and his first reaction is to pass it to his CTO...we're f'ing doomed.

[Darhan]

UBI is not enough, but it's a good place to start. Create an income floor. Get everyone up to at least the federal poverty level, and then let everyone build on that based on their own connections, traits, and talents, and how good they are at using these new technologies.

[HereTheHeckOfIt]

The reason we'll have problems is along with a change of this magnitude, people will have to change, including businesses themselves. So far, it is looking like people are expected to adapt to these changes while companies are going about their business-as-usual way.

[MediaCreators]

It's hardly a question whether the majority of people would prefer to work just 4 hours a day. The real challenge lies in either doubling the hourly wage or cutting the cost of living in half. Should be a cakewalk for AI, right?

[babakabadkheir]

He says that things will become faster, but he doesn't say that labor will become cheap and nobody pays skilled labor like before. And he doesn't say that there is no market for all these people who are unemployed. Friends, we are caught by giant companies that sacrifice everything as always. They do it to get more profit. The law of the jungle always rules.

[russ]

He: vocal frying. She: Botox facial paralysis. Are we really supposed to trust people like this with our future who are this insecure?