☆ Modern Day Luddites?
When real U.K. textile workers began destroying industrial machinery in 1811 to protest low wages and job loss, they attributed their actions to the mythical character of King (or Ned) Ludd. Unknown. 195 years since publication, copyright extinguished, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In which evidence proves, contrary to our local anti-tech left, how AI and new techs can be good news for low income workers. An Opp Now exclusive.
Local lefty activist groups want to oversee and direct new techs' entry into the marketplace to ensure no negative impact on low income jobs. The reality, however, is that lower income/entry level job workers arguably benefit the most from new techs in the workplace and can increase their earnings by 5 to 45 percent by embracing these tools.
Here's how AI and other emerging techs help low-income workers:
Task Simplification: AI takes over repetitive, basic duties. This frees up time for workers to be more productive and learn new skills.
In administrative support, AI acts as an assistant to draft emails, sort data, and schedule appointments.
In healthcare and social assistance, AI tools help manage records, handle customer inquiries, and reduce daily stress.
In customer service, AI excels at simple tasks where outputs are easy to check, such as basic queries. This makes it easier for new workers to perform well quickly.
They said the same thing about personal computers
During the late 1970s and 1980s, when microprocessors and early PCs began entering the workplace, labor organizations voiced concerns that focused heavily on what economists eventually termed skill-biased technological change.
And while it's largely true that the computer revolution disproportionately helped college-educated, tech-savvy workers, lower income workers also benefited by:
Task augmentation: Computers help novice or lower-wage workers handle complex writing, programming, or customer service tasks, improving their output and job capabilities.
Deflationary effects and improved living standards, cheaper goods: Technology creates deflationary pressure on everyday consumer goods, making tools like smartphones, communication networks, and information access affordable for low-income households.
Follow Opportunity Now on Twitter @svopportunity
We prize letters from our thoughtful readers. Typed on a Smith Corona. Written in longhand on fine stationery. Scribbled on a napkin. Hey, even composed on email. Feel free to send your comments to us at opportunitynowsv@gmail.com or (snail mail) 1590 Calaveras Ave., SJ, CA 95126. Remember to be thoughtful and polite. We will post letters on an irregular basis on the main Opp Now site.