4 ms·

It's simple: it's just a lie. We are seeing the goal of AI in action here, which is reducing payroll costs.

djeekle 8mo ago
Since the rush for AGI isn’t panning out, I can see tech firms engaging in tacit collusion that aims to reduce the salaries of software engineers. There’s proof of tech firms engaging in explicit collusion back in the 00’s.
MeetingsBrowser 8mo ago
I also don't understand that take. Imagine you run a mowing service with 4 employees. Suddenly 2 more people volunteer to mow yard for your company for free! Is your reaction to fire two of the paid employees and keep mowing the same number of yards (with reduced payroll costs), or to expand the business to mow more yards? Which of those responses feels more in line with a "strong and growing" business that is "continuing to support more customers" and has "improving profitability"?
- xeckr 8mo ago
  Now imagine you run a mowing service with 4 employees. Suddenly an unbounded number of people appear on the job market who are ready to work for your company at a 5% the cost of your previous employees. Best of all, they become more competent and less expensive over time. You can't yet fire your entire original roster all at once since they need to teach the new hires the specifics of the job, but after that's done, what do you need them for?
  - MeetingsBrowser 8mo ago
    No sane person is claiming AI can fully replace a human worker today. It is a productivity multiplier at least for now.
    - xeckr 8mo ago
      How do you square (heh) this with Jack Dorsey axing nearly half of Block's headcount?
      - MeetingsBrowser 7mo ago
        That is my point exactly. The action and the explanation don't make sense together.
    - siva7 8mo ago
      > No sane person is claiming AI can fully replace a human worker today. You must be living under a rock..
      - MeetingsBrowser 7mo ago
        Can you name a single reputable business that has stated they fully replaced a human worker with AI?
- Refreeze5224 8mo ago
  A fundamental attribute of capitalism is that labor costs are a regrettable cost center, and any reduction in labor costs without a resulting loss in profit/perceived productivity is a big win. AI is a big win for capitalists, and not so much for anyone who is now suddenly "made redundant". And since we treat shareholder value as sacred and inviolate, too bad for workers who lose their job in this deal.
- d0100 8mo ago
  If you apply Pareto to productivity, you can fire a lot of people and still manage

Since the rush for AGI isn’t panning out, I can see tech firms engaging in tacit collusion that aims to reduce the salaries of software engineers. There’s proof of tech firms engaging in explicit collusion back in the 00’s.

MeetingsBrowser 8mo ago

I also don't understand that take. Imagine you run a mowing service with 4 employees. Suddenly 2 more people volunteer to mow yard for your company for free! Is your reaction to fire two of the paid employees and keep mowing the same number of yards (with reduced payroll costs), or to expand the business to mow more yards? Which of those responses feels more in line with a "strong and growing" business that is "continuing to support more customers" and has "improving profitability"?

xeckr 8mo ago
Now imagine you run a mowing service with 4 employees. Suddenly an unbounded number of people appear on the job market who are ready to work for your company at a 5% the cost of your previous employees. Best of all, they become more competent and less expensive over time. You can't yet fire your entire original roster all at once since they need to teach the new hires the specifics of the job, but after that's done, what do you need them for?
- MeetingsBrowser 8mo ago
  No sane person is claiming AI can fully replace a human worker today. It is a productivity multiplier at least for now.
  - xeckr 8mo ago
    How do you square (heh) this with Jack Dorsey axing nearly half of Block's headcount?
    - MeetingsBrowser 7mo ago
      That is my point exactly. The action and the explanation don't make sense together.
  - siva7 8mo ago
    > No sane person is claiming AI can fully replace a human worker today. You must be living under a rock..
    - MeetingsBrowser 7mo ago
      Can you name a single reputable business that has stated they fully replaced a human worker with AI?
Refreeze5224 8mo ago
A fundamental attribute of capitalism is that labor costs are a regrettable cost center, and any reduction in labor costs without a resulting loss in profit/perceived productivity is a big win. AI is a big win for capitalists, and not so much for anyone who is now suddenly "made redundant". And since we treat shareholder value as sacred and inviolate, too bad for workers who lose their job in this deal.
d0100 8mo ago
If you apply Pareto to productivity, you can fire a lot of people and still manage