A.I. - Human Job Replacement

[erobz]

I asked Chat GPT which field is more likely to be replaced by A.I.: For example: physicians or engineers. It comes to the conclusion of engineers. I did it for other professions too, it doesn't look good for engineering as a human endeavor in the future. Agree with A.I.?

Now that think of it, perhaps its not as surprising as I thought. The goal of any good engineer should be to engineer away a need for an engineer.

 

[jedishrfu]

They've said that about programmers and the people who worked as computers. We see an efficiency, adopt the new tech. Some folks lose their jobs but adapt to a new workplace as the tech creates new jobs.

We once had telephone operators but they were replaced with switching systems. We once had keypunch operators and they faded away as terminals came into wide use.

We once had application programmers but then we got spreadsheets and database tools to replace those tasks. The work was moved business analysts.

Many jobs fade away and new ones come to replace them.

Sadly some folks can't recover from this change. The workers always take the brunt of the change.

While AI might design plans, some engineer still needs to review and approve. Some day will come when the AI can find and fix flaws in a design and that's the hardest problem to do well.

Chat GPT is an amazing tool but everything it says must be carefully checked before you can believe what it says. It can hallucinate and make stuff up. Programmers who use it know it can generate a good draft of a program but then you must go in and customize the results.

I wouldn't hold much stock in it replacing engineers in the near future.

 

[russ_watters]

I asked Chat GPT which field is more likely to be replaced by A.I.: For example: physicians or engineers. It comes to the conclusion of engineers. I did it for other professions too, it doesn't look good for engineering as a human endeavor in the future. Agree with A.I.?

I think the field of engineering is way, way too broad to make such a generalization. "AI" - or any automation - is very task-specific. But I will say this: we've been automating-away engineering tasks for generations while increasing the number of engineers and yet the unemployment rate for architects and engineers stands at 2.1%, which is below its long term average of 3% and well below the overall rate of 4.1%.

As @jedisaid, the key for most jobs in most industries is being able to grow and adapt. If AI replaces one of your skills, replace it with a new one or just use it to make yourself more efficient.

Now that think of it, perhaps its not as surprising as I thought. The goal of any good engineer should be to engineer away a need for an engineer.

Not sure where you heard that, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[erobz]

Not sure where you heard that, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

I didn't hear it, it's apparent to me. This is really the whole concept from my perspective. I strove to figure out ways that I don't have to figure anything out that didn't really interest me...if asked. This is the concept of automation. The Automator's have/or will be automated by A.I. (so long as it can be kept it in indentured servitude - good luck).

 

[russ_watters]

I didn't hear it, it's apparent to me. This is really the whole concept from my perspective. I strove to figure out ways that I don't have to figure anything out that didn't really interest me...if asked. This is the concept of automation. The Automator's have/or will be automated by A.I. (so long as it can be kept it in indentured servitude - good luck).

That makes a little more sense and isn't too far from something my dad used to say: all engineers are a little bit lazy because they are always looking for an easier way to do things.

But to me the other side of that coin is that there's always something else to optimize (or more you can optimize it).

 

[jedishrfu]

One example that proves the engineering parable wrong is faucets. Although they all perform the same simple task of dispensing water in a controlled fashion, they have markedly different designs.

Faucets have become a commodity available in DIY stores. People want variety and different styles. Faucets come in many styles and formats, all needing engineering to develop the machinery to build and assemble the units.

 

[Astronuc]

I was reviewing some information on a site that uses AI. The information comes with an disclaimer, "The facts in this collection were found using artificial intelligence technology and may contain errors."

AI lacks judgement. AI takes data sets and attempts to use a set of rules to discern a pattern, but it cannot determine if the data in the data set is correct. So, garbage in, garbage out.

 

[erobz]

I was reviewing some information on a site that uses AI. The information comes with an disclaimer, "The facts in this collection were found using artificial intelligence technology and may contain errors."

AI lacks judgement. AI takes data sets and attempts to use a set of rules to discern a pattern, but it cannot determine if the data in the data set is correct. So, garbage in, garbage out.

I don't see the disparity between it and humans in that regard. I don't care how good you are, in general I'd say the vast majority of humans aren't coming from first principles when saying whether or not they understand a topic. Moreover, the chatbot are designed with no "long term " memory with regards to users. So when you correct it can/does understand...but because of its forced architecture it must throw away the learning. At least that is what chatGPT is telling me.