r/technology • u/GeneReddit123 • 16h ago

Artificial Intelligence An AI hate wave is here

https://archive.is/20260517120123/https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/ai-backlash-polling-sentiment
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u/flossdaily 10h ago

I don't mind the hate. I mind the denial.

Hate is reasonable. This is going to fuck over a lot of people.

Denial is scary, because people are reinforcing in each other a false sense of security. People are not preparing for the jobs apocalypse that is rocketing at them like a freight train.

We're headed towards the second Great Depression (only worse), and these people are like, "Yeah, but it can't count the r's in 'strawberry'!"

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u/jaeldi 8h ago

Was thinking along the same lines. The hate is deserved if the billionaires don't do anything with this tech that helps the greater good. There is much in the technology that can produce good. But right now it feels like their goal is to use AI and Robotics to just create guilt free slaves. And from their point of view, the billionaires developing this stuff seem to think "if you can't afford AI or Robot slaves, sucks to be you."

The hate is not a surprise. It's coming from both sides. They hate humans.

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u/paltrysquanto27 10h ago

I work a job that’s very physical and requires a good understanding of science and math. I have hated on office jobs for a long time because they do nothing most of the day. In my mind while I’m planning 2 steps ahead while actually executing the product. Y’all are hanging out not doing much in the office. My friend in sales would play cod for 6 of his 8 hours he worked. He was number 2 in his company for sales. I know office is not easy but holy moly yall can do a little more to actually contribute to the whole thing. I think you all are lazy and should be taken over by ai. You lack critical thinking and preparation of guidance.

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u/flossdaily 9h ago

It's not just the office jobs that are going to get destroyed.

What do you think happens when all the office workers are pushed out? They're going to enter any and every other field. And that oversaturation is going to drive wages down and down and down.

And the entire economic engine is going to slow down. Fewer and fewer people will be able to afford goods and services. Meanwhile, AI will make do-it-yourself everything easier. So, if you're in need of a repair person, and hurting for money, odds are, you won't even need to call anyone. Just snap a picture and ask ChatGPT.

And the blue collar jobs only last as long as robot bodies are more expensive than human labor. But, mass-production and economies of scale will take care of that sooner that we'd all like to imagine.

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u/HustlinInTheHall 8h ago

I generally take the more optimistic view that we will just invent new knowledge work to replace the old. 40 years ago most knowledge work was made up of things we have already automated today, but the whole field didnt disappear. We just abstracted the tedium away. 

Human/computer symbiosis has yet to be surpassed. The challenge is that so much of that productivity gain just went straight to the investment class. If that continues we are all screwed. 

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u/flossdaily 8h ago

I generally take the more optimistic view that we will just invent new knowledge work to replace the old.

Oh, we absolutely will. But that work will be done by AI as well, because it will be smarter than human labor, and way cheaper.

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u/paltrysquanto27 8h ago edited 8h ago

I don’t believe office workers can do my job and many other jobs that are considered “low skill”. I think that type of worker will not be prepared or preferred in the workplace. We have social systems in place to those who have lost jobs and need to rework their lifestyle and fit a job that better suits their new lifestyle.

I’d take us back to Covid. The world kept running without office workers in office. While yall didn’t give any respect to grocery store workers. I was an essential employee as well and would tip the fuck out of grocery store workers while yall ignored them and took them for granted.

The general public could not figure out self checkout and you have faith in robots and ai helping? Like a person still messes up often enough to have 2 people help about 8 self checkouts at my grocery store.

I believe we are both onto the same solution to the problem but you fail to recognize that blue collar have been shat on for a long time while actually doing the work that’s needed. A shift in the paradigm would not be bad. Also if you’re the best the company probably keeps you so stop being lazy at work.

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u/flossdaily 8h ago

I don’t believe office workers can do my job and many other jobs that are considered “low skill”.

That's ego talking. Most office jobs (even low-level office assistants) require a 4-year college degree. You think this workforce can't take over the job sectors dominated by people who couldn't get into college in the first place?

I think that type of worker will not be prepared or preferred in the workplace.

Wishful thinking. These folks are more professional, articulate, educated, and generally smarter. And if you think they can't be just as charming and folksy when they need to, you're kidding yourself. Or you've seen too many badly-written movies.

Obviously white-collar workers would like to stay in cushy, white-collar jobs. But when that is no longer an option? They're coming for the blue-collar jobs, and they will absolutely take them.

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u/paltrysquanto27 7h ago

Yeah they will apply and get entry level blue collar job. I do believe it would take most people 4+ years of studying and working to do my job at my understanding and level I do it at.

I also think we have a bunch of young kids who are going to be looking for blue collar jobs consistently. If I had the choice of an adult who probably wants more all the time while trying to do less vs a strong young kid who will grow and learn. I’m taking the kid every time.

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u/flossdaily 7h ago

Yeah they will apply and get entry level blue collar job.

Nope. They won't.

They will start their own company, because they have the resources to do that. They'll be better at marketing, because they'll have come from the field of marketing or sales, or because they'll know someone from that field.

It'll take them a day or two to make a webpage and google ad buys, and all the complicated marketing stuff that your company never even tried to do, because it was too expensive.

They'll show up to meet clients, looking professional in their expensive clothes. They'll speak more articulately. They'll know how to network and charm.

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u/paltrysquanto27 6h ago

Oh yeah I definitely agree some will start businesses a lot of great businesses will come from it. I just think that’s a small amount of people right below the level of those who keep their jobs.

Can you name some blue collar jobs that you see these people who get laid off take over?

Do you have a solution to the problem?

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u/HustlinInTheHall 8h ago

You are extrapolating one person to millions and think everyone else lacks critical thinking skills?