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> British companies reported that AI had resulted in net job losses over the past 12 months, down 8% The companies responding know best why they do and don't h

> British companies reported that AI had resulted in net job losses over the past 12 months, down 8% The companies responding know best why they do and don't hire.

kalleboo 9mo ago
Companies lie. Even if companies didn't lie, people within companies lie.
- graemep 9mo ago
  They also answer might these things quite casually. The response may not come from people who know. Its probably been delegated to someone quite junior. I once saw a survey question (on what the view was of economic outlook and exchange rates) been bounced to someone junior, who then looked to an external source which based its answer partly on the previous version of the same survey.
  - chrisjj 9mo ago
    https://1funny.com/funny-joke-the-forecast/ https://1funny.com/funny-joke-the-forecast/ It is October, and the Indians on a remote reservation ask their new Chief if the coming winter is going to be cold or mild… :)
  - throwawayffffas 9mo ago
    Saying you are laying people off because AI, makes the company look like it's innovating and embracing new technology. Saying you are laying people off because costs are up and earnings are struggling reflects bad on the image of the company and the performance of the leadership. Everyone has incentives to lie. What we would be seeing if the AI uptake was productive would be faster GDP growth, and an uptick in the job market as they would be looking for people to leverage the AI into even more productive gains.
    - graemep 9mo ago
      I somewhat agree, but: With your first point that would be in public, but they do not have the same incentives replying to a survey with the promise of confidentiality. With the second yes, but not in the short term.
      - jononor 9mo ago
        Companies tend to lie towards their employees in similar ways as to the public. Very often most if the organization ends up believing the lies. The few people that do not tend to keep shut or go elsewhere.
tonyedgecombe 9mo ago
If that 8% was representative or even accurate then unemployment would have rocketed.

> British companies reported that AI had resulted in net job losses over the past 12 months, down 8% The companies responding know best why they do and don't hire.

kalleboo 9mo ago

Companies lie. Even if companies didn't lie, people within companies lie.

graemep 9mo ago
They also answer might these things quite casually. The response may not come from people who know. Its probably been delegated to someone quite junior. I once saw a survey question (on what the view was of economic outlook and exchange rates) been bounced to someone junior, who then looked to an external source which based its answer partly on the previous version of the same survey.
- chrisjj 9mo ago
  https://1funny.com/funny-joke-the-forecast/ https://1funny.com/funny-joke-the-forecast/ It is October, and the Indians on a remote reservation ask their new Chief if the coming winter is going to be cold or mild… :)
- throwawayffffas 9mo ago
  Saying you are laying people off because AI, makes the company look like it's innovating and embracing new technology. Saying you are laying people off because costs are up and earnings are struggling reflects bad on the image of the company and the performance of the leadership. Everyone has incentives to lie. What we would be seeing if the AI uptake was productive would be faster GDP growth, and an uptick in the job market as they would be looking for people to leverage the AI into even more productive gains.
  - graemep 9mo ago
    I somewhat agree, but: With your first point that would be in public, but they do not have the same incentives replying to a survey with the promise of confidentiality. With the second yes, but not in the short term.
    - jononor 9mo ago
      Companies tend to lie towards their employees in similar ways as to the public. Very often most if the organization ends up believing the lies. The few people that do not tend to keep shut or go elsewhere.

tonyedgecombe 9mo ago

If that 8% was representative or even accurate then unemployment would have rocketed.