It may be that technology is finally dissolving the relationship of mutual necessity between capital and labor that allows labor to act *as labor*, but that was always something we’d have to move beyond if we were ever to free ourselves from capital. This reminds me of Joshua Clover’s book “Riot, Strike, Riot”, and the possibility of moving the sites of resistance and changing our conception of who we are in opposition to our oppressors. It can indeed be very powerful to organize unemployed people - it’s just not “labor” power.
A note about the power of organizing unemployed people: a couple of unions have used their resources to start workers co-ops (https://youtu.be/24LKA_8rk2k, around the 19 minute mark). That’s helping to organize un- and under-employed people into workers co-ops, and it’s a way to increase worker participation in the labour movement, create more democratized workplaces, and provide services for communities.
In addition, in Canada, things like the On-to-Ottawa Trek in 1935 (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/on-to-ottawa-trek) and the National Unemployed Workers Association in the 30s (https://www.esask.uregina.ca/entry/workers_unity_league.html) showed the power of organizing unemployed people. As Bill Waiser writes about the NUWA’s perspective in All Hell Can’t Stop Us, “Joblessness was not the consequence of personal failing, but the collapse of the capitalist system…. ‘Organize unemployed councils…Fight, don’t starve.’” We once again need to get away from the idea that, unless you’re able to get a union card, you’re not part of the labour movement; it weakens solidarity across the working class.
Hamilton, thank you for calling out one of the most critical issues that's being lost in all the "abundance mindset" BS surrounding the AI-driven future.
I’m glad (maybe not the correct word) that I’m not the only person who read that NYMag article and was overwhelmed by the dystopia of it. I handed it over to my Gen Z kid and he basically said “fully aware. Not sure what we do. We are fucked.”
Does capitalism terminate when it no longer functions for 80+% of humanity, or does it simply morph into something else that will be even worse? Some of that transition may already be taking place. Thinking caps needed for sure. Humanity would be wise to observe the First Law Of Holes: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
I appreciate your piece as it raises important concerns. I just looped back here in my piece to the beginning of oppressive computer tech for some perspective. AI just lowers the entry costs for business to do what they have been doing since the 1980s. https://newsletter.aprogressiveway.com/fault-not-in-ai-but-capitalism/
I haven't see a more comprehensive use of the divide conquer idea than what Mercor is utilizing against wage earners. The atomization of Americans has been around for decades, but I've not seen it so effectively applied. The 6 bullet points HN lays out are devastatingly thorough in handcuffing workers to a job that almost guarantees they will lose their present job and at the same time undermines employment opportunities in the future. I know there is plenty of evidence that these big AI companies are losing money, and environmentally the gigantic data centers are simply not environmentally sustainable, but AI is here to stay. Its now in the fabric of our economy, and it does have benefits, but its implementation isn't prioritizing people over profits. Its seems the best thing that can be done is to do what Mr. HN is doing, get the word out.
Presuming people have read the latest "Atlantic" cover story on AI -- this is not some decade long economic transition -- this is stealing today with no consequences for tomorrow.
It may be that technology is finally dissolving the relationship of mutual necessity between capital and labor that allows labor to act *as labor*, but that was always something we’d have to move beyond if we were ever to free ourselves from capital. This reminds me of Joshua Clover’s book “Riot, Strike, Riot”, and the possibility of moving the sites of resistance and changing our conception of who we are in opposition to our oppressors. It can indeed be very powerful to organize unemployed people - it’s just not “labor” power.
A note about the power of organizing unemployed people: a couple of unions have used their resources to start workers co-ops (https://youtu.be/24LKA_8rk2k, around the 19 minute mark). That’s helping to organize un- and under-employed people into workers co-ops, and it’s a way to increase worker participation in the labour movement, create more democratized workplaces, and provide services for communities.
In addition, in Canada, things like the On-to-Ottawa Trek in 1935 (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/on-to-ottawa-trek) and the National Unemployed Workers Association in the 30s (https://www.esask.uregina.ca/entry/workers_unity_league.html) showed the power of organizing unemployed people. As Bill Waiser writes about the NUWA’s perspective in All Hell Can’t Stop Us, “Joblessness was not the consequence of personal failing, but the collapse of the capitalist system…. ‘Organize unemployed councils…Fight, don’t starve.’” We once again need to get away from the idea that, unless you’re able to get a union card, you’re not part of the labour movement; it weakens solidarity across the working class.
Hamilton, thank you for calling out one of the most critical issues that's being lost in all the "abundance mindset" BS surrounding the AI-driven future.
I’m glad (maybe not the correct word) that I’m not the only person who read that NYMag article and was overwhelmed by the dystopia of it. I handed it over to my Gen Z kid and he basically said “fully aware. Not sure what we do. We are fucked.”
404 Media looked at what’s happening with the workers in Africa who’ve been acting as sex chat bots and labeling porn to *improve AI* and have suffered from PTSD and other issues as a result of the work. Well, looks like they’re unionizing. https://www.404media.co/ai-is-african-intelligence-the-workers-who-train-ai-are-fighting-back/
Does capitalism terminate when it no longer functions for 80+% of humanity, or does it simply morph into something else that will be even worse? Some of that transition may already be taking place. Thinking caps needed for sure. Humanity would be wise to observe the First Law Of Holes: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
I appreciate your piece as it raises important concerns. I just looped back here in my piece to the beginning of oppressive computer tech for some perspective. AI just lowers the entry costs for business to do what they have been doing since the 1980s. https://newsletter.aprogressiveway.com/fault-not-in-ai-but-capitalism/
I haven't see a more comprehensive use of the divide conquer idea than what Mercor is utilizing against wage earners. The atomization of Americans has been around for decades, but I've not seen it so effectively applied. The 6 bullet points HN lays out are devastatingly thorough in handcuffing workers to a job that almost guarantees they will lose their present job and at the same time undermines employment opportunities in the future. I know there is plenty of evidence that these big AI companies are losing money, and environmentally the gigantic data centers are simply not environmentally sustainable, but AI is here to stay. Its now in the fabric of our economy, and it does have benefits, but its implementation isn't prioritizing people over profits. Its seems the best thing that can be done is to do what Mr. HN is doing, get the word out.
Presuming people have read the latest "Atlantic" cover story on AI -- this is not some decade long economic transition -- this is stealing today with no consequences for tomorrow.
"It is that AI models, trained by us, will become so skilled at replacing writers..."
Will they? What are you basing this on?
They will replace writers to the satisfaction of employers. Whether they are “good” at writing is a separate question.