Economy Is AI Really Replacing Jobs?

[chardog]

I keep hearing people say that AI is wiping out the American workforce, especially in tech. Sure, it's a hot topic, but let's be real – tech workers are getting hit hard, but not just from AI. I could be wrong, I think the bigger issue is the same old problem: H1B visas and companies outsourcing to overseas firms.

These outsourcing companies are now branding themselves as "AI specialists," but from my firsthand experience, it's mostly just a ton of Indian workers handling the grunt work. Don't get me wrong, it's not about the people – it's about how this system is undercutting American jobs.

I work at a mid-sized company, and today we got hit with layoffs: 6 out of 10 devs on my team got chopped, and to be replaced by a big firm from India (completely based there). I made it through this round, but it's brutal. Private equity groups own us now, and they couldn't care less about the team – it's all about the bottom line.

Hoping Trump gets back in and really cracks down on this H1B abuse and outsourcing mess, I've got long time lady project managers balling their eyes out due to work relations being severed without notice. What do you all think? Anyone else dealing with this? Am I delusional and it's the AI after all, not these overseas firms?

 

[method115]

Trump is 100% ok with H1B visas so don't expect any help there.

My wife said a whole team was cut. They were used to take notes for the doctors while they work but now they've been replaced by AI that can automatically transcribe everything for them while they work. Haven't heard anything beyond that. She works for a large company though so if it happened globally it was probably a lot of workers.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Yeah. But they are always napping on the job...

 

[Blayt7hh]

Yes AI is replacing jobs. I expect that to accelerate over the next decade.

H1B visas are also a problem. The whole tech industry needs to be put in a chokehold and fixed. Congress has let them run wild for too long

 

[SandisLL]

I keep hearing people say that AI is wiping out the American workforce, especially in tech. Sure, it's a hot topic, but let's be real – tech workers are getting hit hard, but not just from AI. I could be wrong, I think the bigger issue is the same old problem: H1B visas and companies outsourcing to overseas firms.

These outsourcing companies are now branding themselves as "AI specialists," but from my firsthand experience, it's mostly just a ton of Indian workers handling the grunt work. Don't get me wrong, it's not about the people – it's about how this system is undercutting American jobs.

I work at a mid-sized company, and today we got hit with layoffs: 6 out of 10 devs on my team got chopped, and to be replaced by a big firm from India (completely based there). I made it through this round, but it's brutal. Private equity groups own us now, and they couldn't care less about the team – it's all about the bottom line.

Hoping Trump gets back in and really cracks down on this H1B abuse and outsourcing mess, I've got long time lady project managers balling their eyes out due to work relations being severed without notice. What do you all think? Anyone else dealing with this? Am I delusional and it's the AI after all, not these overseas firms?

Explain me how pump might fight with outsourcing ?
Yes, he might cancel H1B visas but these are lesser problems than to deal with soft using libs created by unpaid students too and yeah ....from cheaper countries than India too.

Then you have lagging compilator and blaming immigrants you might see around.
While .... yeah.

While maybe better sense might be to see some project done by xx devs and during years by using different C++ vers and tools, with ...yup.... cheaper = better.
Then to taste.

India btw isn't cheapest option anymore.

 

[White Whale]

AI will put millions out of work and nothing will be done to help people that lost their jobs.

 

[Scott Stapp]

AI will put millions out of work and nothing will be done to help people that lost their jobs.

Matt Walsh works for a money-losing tax write-off for fracking billionaires.

 

[Blayt7hh]

AI will put millions out of work and nothing will be done to help people that lost their jobs.

Pretty much and I don’t see congress doing a damn thing about it until it becomes catastrophic

 

[BudKing8806]

AI will put millions out of work and nothing will be done to help people that lost their jobs.

Maybe, but the end game doesn't make a lot of sense. Yea, companies can use this AI to replace everyone, but then who is going to buy the product? Unless they come out with some universal income or something, I don't see it happening.

 

[fingercuffs]

Microsoft laid a ton of people off and cited AI as a result.
Husband works on AI projects for Apple so I'm hopeful but it's always in the back of my head that his contract won't be renewed again. He got Covid laid off from them before, they're pretty ruthless.

 

[Blayt7hh]

Maybe, but the end game doesn't make a lot of sense. Yea, companies can use this AI to replace everyone, but then who is going to buy the product? Unless they come out with some universal income or something, I don't see it happening.

The thing is though that there is no plan. It’s a bunch of oligopolies competing for a leg up and to maximize profits. In the short run replacing workers is a way to cut cost. These companies always play for short term gains and things that make their stocks go up, so it’s going to happen and yes I imagine that scenario you described may be in our future.

 

[SandisLL]

Maybe, but the end game doesn't make a lot of sense. Yea, companies can use this AI to replace everyone, but then who is going to buy the product? Unless they come out with some universal income or something, I don't see it happening.

This yeah.
They does wants to sell for high price and purchase job and commodities for max possible low price.

Who will pay for services and products?

 

[avenue94]

Yes AI is replacing jobs. I expect that to accelerate over the next decade.

H1B visas are also a problem. The whole tech industry needs to be put in a chokehold and fixed. Congress has let them run wild for too long

AI so far isn't replacing huge swathes of jobs in so much ithat AI spending is crowding out other investments and companies resort to layoffs to compensate.

If AI was replacing all these jobs, you wouldn't see such pitiful revenue compared to AI spending.

Of course, this doesn't mean this trend won't change down the road.

 

[SandisLL]

Microsoft laid a ton of people off and cited AI as a result.
Husband works on AI projects for Apple so I'm hopeful but it's always in the back of my head that his contract won't be renewed again. He got Covid laid off from them before, they're pretty ruthless.

Actually I feel vomit sense about soft dev type job.
OK, if it is product company then better ofc.
I had did some stuff...and had normal boss who had paid for extra work ...not listed in contract. He paid in time and was normal, also used waterfall not agile shit.


Then I had to see supposedly polite etc ppl thinking to save each $ possible. IT fun.
I had opted to keep sell construction materials etc rather than... to do this.

 

[Blayt7hh]

AI so far isn't replacing huge swathes of jobs in so much ithat AI spending is crowding out other investments and companies resort to layoffs to compensate.

If AI was replacing all these jobs, you wouldn't see such pitiful revenue compared to AI spending.

Of course, this doesn't mean this trend won't change down the road.

Hence the acceleration

 

[fingercuffs]

Actually I feel vomit sense about soft dev type job.
OK, if it is product company then better ofc.
I had did some stuff...and had normal boss who had paid for extra work ...not listed in contract. He paid in time and was normal, also used waterfall not agile shit.


Then I had to see supposedly polite etc ppl thinking to save each $ possible. IT fun.
I had opted to keep sell construction materials etc rather than... to do this.

We both come from IT backgrounds and him now being in marketing and production, we know bugger all about construction, lol.

 

[TrueBias]

I dont like the idea, but ive already seen drawbacks on going this way too soon, way too fast.

Stores are taking self checkout registers out because of theft, making massively racist, yet hilarious videos....cant wait to see when folks are REALLY getting duped by their images in very bad spots. Thinking epstein images here....

Reminds me of VR. Its not there, I hardly see it improved, but we pretend its awesome.

 

[The_Renaissance]

I work with a gigantic lefty anti capitalist who genuinely believes that AI will mean we can all "create art instead of working menial jobs"


It's like......create art with WHAT? You have no money to buy materials. Let's say you did. Who's buying your art? How are you feeding yourself or your family?

That's basically the lazy mindset of a young girl who'd rather do nothing despite being extremely good at what she does in a sector she adores and is very well paid for it. Guess what love - you won't be getting your 60k a year anymore to spend on attending eco friendly festivals that cost you over £600 for 3 days in a field in fucking Wales

Absolutely clueless

 

[TUFNewb]

This Yale study basically says not yet in a significant enough way to effect the economy

Overall, our metrics indicate that the broader labor market has not experienced a discernible disruption since ChatGPT’s release 33 months ago, undercutting fears that AI automation is currently eroding the demand for cognitive labor across the economy.

While this finding may contradict the most alarming headlines, it is not surprising given past precedents. Historically, widespread technological disruption in workplaces tends to occur over decades, rather than months or years. Computers didn’t become commonplace in offices until nearly a decade after their release to the public, and it took even longer for them to transform office workflows. Even if new AI technologies will go on to impact the labor market as much, or more, dramatically, it is reasonable to expect that widespread effects will take longer than 33 months to materialize.

I found this interesting:

 

[RemyR]

Jobs? It's gonna be replacing human lives soon enough.