On the AI’s first day at work, the content creators of the “health tech” startup Hello Doctor welcomed it with open arms. AI was going to make their jobs easier, relieving the heavy burden placed on the writing staff. Non-threatening and clearly useful, the pre-ChatGPT 4 AI even had a totally adorbs name: the tech guys called it Robocub.
Months later, everything had changed. The Hello Doctor Philippines office had, at its peak, a growing team of 14 editors and writers to produce hundreds of pieces of online content every month. Today, there is only one editor left. Oh, and the AI of course.
In hindsight, the AI-pocalypse should have surprised no one. (Full disclosure: I was one of the editors on the team.) By now, we’ve all heard how the rise of AI will cause unprecedented job displacement. In fact, IBM was spreading that exact message way back in 2019, estimating that 120 million workers worldwide may lose their jobs in three years. It’s now four years later, and change is happening all around us – if you know where to look. And right now, much of the job displacement is coming from ChatGPT.
According to a 2023 report by Accenture entitled “A new era of generative AI for everyone,” 40% of all work hours could be affected by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT-4 – the main culprit/champion of the latest round of AI advances. Accenture explains that this is because 62% of all tasks at work are actually language tasks. If that number seems a bit large to you, just think how much of your day is spent on language tasks like sending messages and emails, making presentations, or conducting meetings. The good news is all of these tasks can now be augmented or performed outright by ChatGPT. The bad news is if you’re a SEO writer, social media manager, or a programmer, the AI can now do everything you do, it’s cheaper than you, and it never goes on sick leave.
In its report, Accenture is quick to point out that it’s not about the tech; it has been and always will be about the people. “Success with generative AI requires an equal attention on people and training as it does on technology,” Accenture says.
It’s clear that humans still have a role to play as data analysts, editors, or robotics engineers. And yet, in the messy reality of today’s business environment, it can be easy to lose sight of this. For example, while the mid-level managers of Hello Doctor did, at first, try to retrain or transfer employees, pressure on the startup to achieve profitability meant that the company would eventually fire almost all of its content team, when it once considered content to be a pillar of its business model.
Indeed, the future for writers, low-level programmers, accountants, or even cab drivers looks bleak. But with some training and good old-fashioned resilience, there’s also hope. Today, the writers and editors of Hello Doctor have moved on, and most have found employment in the same industry. Lorraine Bunag, former Senior Writer, has found no shortage of work, currently self-employed with two regular clients as well as other websites. Is she nervous about the future because of AI? “Yes, a bit,” Lorraine admits. “AI has numerous functions now. They can even make product descriptions and photos! I calm myself with the fact that AI can never be 100% accurate, so human intervention is still necessary.” Meanwhile, Bianchi Mendoza, former Content Lead, is pivoting back to a former profession, nursing. She agrees with Lorraine, saying “Ultimately, [AI] can’t fully capture the human voice — or the heart and soul of truly good writing.”
Like it or not, the AI revolution is here. It has invaded your Facebook feed with AI-generated memes and celebrity deep fakes. It’s in the summary section of your most recent Google search query. It’s baked into Adobe Photoshop now. Your video card uses it when you play games with DLSS or FSR support. And that article you shared recently? Chances are, AI was involved.
Beyond LLMs, AI can now fly drones, drive cars, beat chess grandmasters, create marketing campaigns, and diagnose illnesses. AI is not a distant promise. It’s right here, right now. And also, chances are, it’s coming for your job.
Vincent C. Sales is, in his own words, “a big nerd.” Formerly a tech magazine editor, he is now a freelance writer and editor, and the author of the fantasy novel, The End of All Skies, published by Penguin Random House SEA.
