Our future with AI

My son works for an AI company, and we have discussions about what the future with AI will be. He questions whether he is doing work that will put in place systems that will replace him in the not-to-distant future.

I point out all of the AI generated work that will be created. For example, this is something we can all relate to. Traffic light coordination. Do you think AI can do a better job at keeping traffic flow moving than the algorithm we have in place, now? Cameras at the intersection tied to the traffic flow control system that can keep traffic moving. You will never have to sit at an intersection with no cars coming from the other direction while waiting for the traffic light to change. AI will dynamically change the light based on traffic flow. The entire city can be coordinated dynamically. LSU game causing traffic back up? AI can get it cleared out, recommend detours, recommend another detour when the first detour gets jammed up, etc.

That will require a LOT of work. The software and hardware that will have to be installed at every intersection in the country is going to take years to implement. Then it will have to be maintained. Maybe we need fewer traffic cops and more traffic light maintenance guys.

Think about the famous "Train to nowhere" that has been in the news. That project took years, billions of dollars, and never produced the jobs that it promised. It seems that every major project is held up by environmental impact studies, feasibility studies, and politics. AI can cut through a lot of the bullshite and we can get people to work sooner and get the work done on time and under budget instead of always dealing with delays that take years and keep workers on the sidelines.

That is just the beginning. The real jobs of the future will not be the jobs that AI can do. The real jobs will be the ones AI can't do AND the ones where people figure out how to best utilize AI to do the work that people used to do.