AI and Our Jobs - Hype, Hope, and Hard Yakka

The chatter about AI taking everyone’s job is everywhere lately—from water cooler convos at the office to wild headline spruiking by influencers online (Forbes: Fears About AI Job Loss, Reuters survey on AI job fears, EY: Nearly half fear job impacts). Even as a tech tragic and AI enthusiast myself, it’s hard not to feel the odd pang of apprehension as these glossy new tools multiply faster than rabbits on a footy field.

Why Are We All So Worried?

It’s not just tinfoil hat territory: recent surveys have found around 70% of people genuinely fear AI will mean permanent job losses. Even here in Australia, lots of finance and tech workers reckon their job security is on the line as employers cotton onto these new efficiencies. Yet, as unemployment rates stay low and AI mainly reconfigures—even amplifies—certain roles, not everyone’s convinced there's a robot at the door just yet (RMIT: Debunking AI job myths, Why AI job loss is overhyped).

The Fear Machine: When Influencers Overcook It

Let’s be honest: fear-mongering about AI jobs is a brilliant way to rake in clicks and followers (Fear-mongering on LinkedIn). Influencers (both flesh-and-blood and increasingly AI-generated ones) are shouting that AI is set to wipe out gig after gig, apparently on a mission to “warn” Gen Z and working families alike. Ironically, AI has already started making a dent in the influencer industry itself—AI influencers are nabbing sponsorship dollars for their creators and could soon gobble up a chunk of that once-glamorous 9-to-5-optional lifestyle.

Embracing AI: The Practical, Pragmatic Path

As a full stack engineer, Māori, NZ expat, and advocate for digital fairness, it feels more useful to focus on what AI can do for us rather than what we’re about to lose. The way I see it, the tech isn’t going anywhere—so why not get stuck in, learn the ropes, and make AI our workmate instead of our replacement? The folks most comfortable working alongside AI are set to thrive, but they need proper training, not just warnings (Reddit: Dealing with AI job loss anxiety, Finance industry concerns, RMIT: Job myths).

I’m a big supporter of fair AI usage—the creators whose work trains these massive models deserve credit (and a fair share of the rewards). There’s an emerging consensus in both policy and tech circles that creators should be given consent, credit, and compensation if their material is used in AI training (ScienceDirect on creator rights). Getting that right is crucial, especially if we want to keep encouraging innovation without trampling all over those who make a living creating.

Slow Down on the Big Scary Stuff

While some companies are hellbent on building Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) at breakneck speed, there’s plenty of us who’d rather see AI used to tackle urgent human problems first—like diseases, climate disasters, or groundbreaking research that helps everyone. Call it cautious optimism, but perhaps hardcore AI R&D hours should be funnelled toward problems we’re actually eager to solve.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Fear the Hard Yakka

Jobs have always changed with the times—from shearing sheds to server rooms. What matters is how we adapt, educate ourselves, and push for fair rules of play. AI is a tool—and, like any tool, the outcome depends on the hands that wield it.

Let's keep the kōrero honest, keep learning, and ensure the future of our mahi is about thriving, not surviving.

Kia kaha, whānau. The future’s unwritten, but it’s still in our hands—algorithms or not.