AI Eliminates 20% Jobs

Andrew Wilkinson shares an enthusiastic and transformative perspective on AI's impact on work and business. He sees AI as a revolutionary force comparable to the discovery of fire or a new continent, with immediate practical applications and profound implications for the workforce.

• AI is a Revolutionary Force:

  • Comparable to "discovering a new continent with 10 billion geniuses willing to work for free"
  • More significant than the internet - "like somebody just invented fire"
  • Creating rapid, transformative change - "decades are happening" right now

• Current Impact on Workforce:

  • Even with existing AI technology (if frozen today):
    • Combined with self-driving cars, could eliminate 20% of current jobs
    • Already replacing administrative and routine tasks
    • Creating "digital employees" and "digital people"

• Practical Applications Already in Use:

  • Meeting Preparation:
    • AI agent preps 30 minutes before meetings
    • Pulls LinkedIn information and relevant email context
    • Summarizes participant bios and meeting topics
  • Portfolio Monitoring:
    • Monitors stock portfolio
    • Tracks local events
  • Administrative Tasks:
    • Automates tasks previously done by human assistants
    • More consistent than humans who might experience "drift" over time
    • Handles tasks "not really worthy" of human assistant's time

• Current State of AI:

  • In the "AOL dial-up phase" - early but still impressive
  • Already useful despite being in early stages
  • Requires some "duct tape and dental floss" to implement solutions