Will Robots Steal My Job? (And Other Burning AI Questions)

Oct 24

Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the new robots lurking around our offices? Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing everything, and it's easy to feel a bit like we're in a sci-fi movie, wondering if our refrigerator is judging us for the ice cream sandwiches we just bought and stashed. Not everything is as creepy as your iPhone showing you ads after your conversation about potentially buying something new. While AI is definitely a game-changer, it's not necessarily the job-stealing apocalypse some predict.

“Think of unions as the ‘humanity guardians’ in the age of AI, ensuring that technology serves the interests of workers, not just corporate profits.”

— Shawn Collins

The Changing Face of Work (It's Not Just for Robots Anymore)

Think of AI as a super-powered intern. It can handle those tedious tasks that make you want to scream into your coffee mug – like scheduling meetings, crunching data, and answering the same customer questions for the hundredth time. This frees you up for the interesting stuff, the tasks that require creativity, critical thinking, and good old-fashioned human interaction.

Imagine this: you're a teacher, and instead of spending hours grading papers, AI helps you analyze student performance and personalize learning plans. Or you're a doctor, and AI assists with diagnosis, allowing you to spend more time with patients, discussing treatment options and offering emotional support.

But What About My Job? (A Realistic Look at the Future)

Yes, some jobs will inevitably be automated. Remember the switchboard operators? Or the elevator operators? Technology has always changed the nature of work, and AI is no different. But here's the thing: AI is also creating new jobs we can't even imagine yet.

Think about it: someone needs to design, build, and maintain these AI systems. Someone needs to train them, teach them ethics – yes, ethics - and make sure they're not getting too clever.

The Skills of the Future (Hint: It's Not Just About Coding)

So, what skills will be in high demand in this brave new AI-powered world? Well, coding is definitely a plus, but it's not the only thing. Think critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence. These are the uniquely human skills that robots (at least for now) can't replicate.

The key is to embrace lifelong learning. We need to be adaptable, willing to upskill and reskill as technology evolves. Think of it as leveling up in a video game – you gain new abilities and unlock new possibilities.

The Power of the Collective (Unions and the AI Revolution)

Now, here's where labor unions come in. As AI reshapes the workplace, unions have a crucial role to play in advocating for workers' rights and ensuring a just transition. This includes:

Negotiating for fair wages and benefits: As AI changes the nature of work, unions can bargain for wages that reflect the value of human skills and expertise.
Protecting workers from displacement: Unions can advocate for policies that support workers who may be displaced by AI, such as retraining programs and income support.
Ensuring ethical AI implementation: Unions can work with employers to ensure AI systems are implemented in a way that is fair, transparent, and respects workers' rights.

Think of unions as the "humanity guardians" in the age of AI, ensuring that technology serves the interests of workers, not just corporate profits.

The Human-AI Partnership (We're in This Together)

The future of work isn't about humans vs. robots; it's about humans and robots working together. AI can be a powerful tool, augmenting our abilities and helping us achieve more than we ever could alone.

But we need to be mindful of the ethical implications. We need to ensure AI is used responsibly, fairly, and for the benefit of all, not just a select few.

So, What Now? (Embrace the Change!)

The AI revolution is happening, and it's exciting! Yes, there are challenges, but there are also incredible opportunities. By embracing lifelong learning, fostering creativity, prioritizing ethical considerations, and strengthening collective bargaining power, we can navigate this new landscape and ensure that AI works for us, not the other way around.

After all, who wouldn't want a robot assistant that knows how to use Excel? Maybe AI can be the one to tell that particular coworker that this meeting could have been an email…

Shawn Collins

Shawn Collins is one of the country’s foremost experts in cannabis policy. He is sought after to opine and consult on not just policy creation and development, but program implementation as well. He is widely recognized for his creative mind as well as his thoughtful and successful leadership of both startup and bureaucratic organizations. In addition to cannabis, he has a well-documented expertise in health care and complex financial matters as well.

Shawn was unanimously appointed as the inaugural Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission in 2017. In that role, he helped establish Massachusetts as a model for the implementation of safe, effective, and equitable cannabis policy, while simultaneously building out and overseeing the operations of the East Coast’s first adult-use marijuana regulatory agency.

Under Shawn’s leadership, Massachusetts’ adult-use Marijuana Retailers successfully opened in 2018 with a fully regulated supply chain unparalleled by their peers, complete with quality control testing and seed-to-sale tracking. Since then, the legal marketplace has grown at a rapid pace and generated more than $5 billion in revenue across more than 300 retail stores, including $1.56 billion in 2023 alone. He also oversaw the successful migration and integration of the Medical Use of Marijuana Program from the stewardship of the Department of Public Health to the Cannabis Control Commission in 2018. The program has since more than doubled in size and continues to support nearly 100,000 patients due to thoughtful programmatic and regulatory enhancements.

Shawn is an original founder of the Cannabis Regulators Association and also helped formalize networks that provide policymakers with unbiased information from the front lines of cannabis legalization, even as federal prohibition persists. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Collins was recognized by Boston Magazine as one of Boston’s 100 most influential people for his work to shape the emerging cannabis industry in Massachusetts.

Before joining the Commission, Shawn served as Assistant Treasurer and Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs to Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg and Chief of Staff and General Counsel to former Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge). He currently lives in Webster, Massachusetts with his growing family. Shawn is a graduate of Suffolk University and Suffolk University Law School, and is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts.

Shawn has since founded THC Group in order to leverage his experience on behalf of clients, and to do so with a personalized approach.

https://homegrown-group.com