Compulsory AI use in the workplace
I’m amazed that I’m even writing this. You can accuse me of living under a rock, but since I choose not to interact with social media, and limit exposure to media outlets I was unaware of the push from corporations to mandate AI use. I have a big problem with this and I can’t get it out of my head. For me, this feels different to the standard compulsory usage of Microsoft Office because that’s the option we choose to use. It was never even described in this way, because it’s a tool to get a job done. AI on the other hand is a tool to do the job for you. I’m expected to streamline my workflow, with email summaries and embrace the future by taking the reins of ultra productivity. I made these slogans up, but I’m sure they are not far from the exciting messages that will be used to encourage us in the near future.
What if I refuse?
This is a really difficult question to answer, and since that’s exactly what I plan to do, I guess I will find out soon enough. My main fear is loosing the ability to think critically about a given problem or task. The old use it or loose it trope is completely true for us puny humans. We need to keep our brains active, train them by learning new skills, and inspire growth by giving our creations to the world. Now AI can do it all so much better, should we not bother anymore? Absolutely not. If I stop using my ability to carry out tasks in this company, what will I do when I’m inevitably replaced by AI, and I’m left needing to relearn those skills to use in some part of society that isn’t run wholly run by AI? (if there will be anything untouched that is)
I wrote a deceleration that I plan to send to my boss. Outlining my refusal to use AI for tasks I’m more than capable of handling myself, and my proposal to use such tools in the workplace, on a limited consent based term dictated by employees. I know my efforts are futile, because I’m just a number in a huge system that really doesn’t care what I think, shareholders gotta’ get paid!!! Do I just sit back and comply forgoing all of my morals and let AI wreak havoc on my daily workflow, while possibly training it to replace me in the not too distant future? Or do I stand up for what I believe in, protest to only one end no matter which way I take it, resulting in inevitable firing.
I will not surrender my brain, I cannot in good conscience do that. So I’ll be out of a job, it wouldn’t be the first time. I’ll clean the streets, work in a restaurant, maybe take up a few other jobs to cover the bills and support my family. The jobs we all strive so much to move away from are all looking much more tantalising now with this new threat of cognitive regression due to overuse of AI is here. Don’t get me wrong also, I don’t believe any job is less than any other. I’ve worked in so many different places in my life due to my lack of studies, and need to experience life for real. A corporation though, is much more comfortable than some of the other jobs I mentioned, but at what cost?
Humans are inherently lazy, we want what’s easy for us. Why spend 30 mins writing something like this out when I can get AI to spit it out in 30 seconds?
Because I can write this. Because I think for myself, and work through life's problems 1 step at a time. I don’t want to use a bot to do it for me, because I need this to stay alive.
I will finish with the disclaimer I wrote at the end of my email, it was fun to write:
This email (and post) was composed by the soon to be endangered human brain. No AI was consulted or used to generate ideas, check spelling/punctuation, or improve upon its content.
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