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  • #124. 💸 Economics of AI 🔥 Polish journalists replaced with AI 👎 25% don't want AI

#124. 💸 Economics of AI 🔥 Polish journalists replaced with AI 👎 25% don't want AI

Plus, AI tools: Open-source prompt engineering platform; AI-powered A/B testing and website improvement; draw with AI and go from sketch to rendered in seconds

🎙️ Today on the Marc Hoag AI Law Pod, I’m trying something amazing; here’s a hint. It involves an interview. And it may not work. But if it does, it will be awesome. (Should be live by about noon PDT.)

  • AI’s Purpose and Impact on Jobs: Companies are increasingly developing AI to replace white-collar jobs. Microsoft, Apple, and Anthropic recently introduced AI systems that can perform tasks independently, suggesting a shift toward autonomous AI in the workplace. Startups are also racing to create AI-powered "employees" capable of taking on entire roles, hinting at future potential for widespread job replacement.

  • Current Paradox: Rising Employment, Lower Productivity: Despite growing AI use, employment in the U.S. and Europe has increased, while global productivity has declined. AI hasn't yet reached the cost and reliability threshold necessary to replace human labor on a large scale, meaning full automation could still be years away.

  • AI's Growing Cost Advantage in Specific Roles: For instance, GPT-4’s real-time API for call centers costs less per minute than human call center agents in the U.S. However, fully automated call centers face reliability issues, suggesting that widespread replacement might only happen once AI systems become more consistent.

  • Challenges of Teaching Computers to Operate Independently: Current technology, like Anthropic’s Computer Use feature, is both costly and prone to errors, such as mishandling files or getting sidetracked. These limitations underscore the difficulty of achieving reliable, cost-effective automation, although AI costs are expected to drop significantly over time.

  • Economic Resilience and Job Creation: While AI may phase out certain jobs, historical data suggests technology often leads to new, unforeseen roles, such as roles in AI training and development. In fact, economist David Autor found that 60% of today’s jobs did not exist in 1940, illustrating that technological advancements typically foster job creation over time.

  • Productivity Gains Could Offset Employment Losses: According to Microsoft VP Charles Lamanna, AI tools will likely handle routine tasks, enhancing individual productivity rather than causing mass unemployment. As AI boosts individual output, it may support economic growth and help younger generations manage the economic burden of aging populations in countries facing demographic declines.

  • Future Prospects for AI and Economic Stability: With aging populations and declining birth rates globally, AI may provide the productivity needed to sustain economic growth. Supercharging workers with AI could be essential to offsetting population declines and ensuring long-term economic stability across global markets.

  • AI-Driven Relaunch Amid Low Listenership: OFF Radio Krakow, a taxpayer-supported station, laid off its journalists and relaunched with AI "presenters" to attract younger listeners. The station claimed that the firings were due to low audience numbers, not the AI transition.

  • First of Its Kind in Poland: The station describes this move as Poland’s first experiment with AI-generated journalists, aiming to cover topics like culture, art, and LGBTQ+ issues. The experiment is meant to explore whether AI poses more of a threat or an opportunity to media.

  • Public Backlash and Petition: Former journalist Mateusz Demski, one of those let go, criticized the decision as setting a "dangerous precedent" that could pave the way for AI replacing creative industry workers. Over 15,000 people signed a petition in support of the journalists, and Demski reported widespread disapproval from the public.

  • Political and Public Reactions: Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski called for AI regulation, stating that while he supports AI development, the increasing use of AI in sensitive roles must serve people, not replace them.

  • AI "Interview" with Late Poet Draws Mixed Reactions: As part of its AI experiment, the station broadcasted an "interview" by an AI-generated presenter impersonating Wisława Szymborska, a Polish Nobel laureate. The Wisława Szymborska Foundation allowed this, saying the poet’s sense of humor might have embraced the concept.

  • Battery Life a Higher Priority Than AI: A new CNET survey reveals that 61% of U.S. adults prioritize longer battery life when upgrading their smartphones, far outweighing interest in AI features, which is only the top motivator for 18% of users.

  • Reluctance to Pay for AI: Nearly half (45%) of smartphone owners are unwilling to pay extra for AI features, citing subscription fatigue and rising monthly costs as deterrents. Privacy concerns also remain, with 34% of respondents expressing unease over AI data handling.

  • Gen Z and Millennials Show AI Interest: Gen Z and Millennials show the most enthusiasm for AI tools, with 20% of each generation regularly using AI features like photo editing and text generation on their phones. Additionally, 19% of Millennials and 20% of Gen Zers frequently use AI apps like ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

  • Minimal Interest in Foldable Phones: Foldable phones still have lukewarm reception, as 52% of respondents are uninterested in purchasing one. Apple has yet to launch a foldable device, but there’s speculation that an Apple foldable could drive broader adoption.

  • Most Hold Off on Frequent Upgrades: High device costs mean many users hold onto their phones longer; 44% wait until their current phone breaks, and 30% keep their devices for three years or more.

✨ PowerPrompt™

Today’s is a Halloween-styled prompt, because of course it is 🎃

Generate unique costume ideas for Halloween based on popular culture, historical figures, and creative concepts that can be easily put together with common clothing or inexpensive accessories. Focus on costumes that are low-effort but high-impact, offering a range of styles like spooky, funny, and classic. Include a list of items needed for each costume, simple makeup tips, and last-minute hacks to enhance the look. Conclude with suggestions for quick Halloween-themed phrases or jokes that match each costume. Make sure to being with a sort of Q&A to get a sense of what general direction I feel like going in for the costume theme.

🧰 AI Tools & Resources

  • Latitude.so: Latitude is the open-source prompt engineering platform to build, evaluate, and refine your prompts with AI

  • Keak.com: AI-powered automatic A/B testing and website self-improvement.

  • Wand.app: Draw with AI, and go from sketch to fully rendered in seconds.

🎉 THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY!

See you next time! 👋

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