this post was submitted on 04 May 2025
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Fuck AI
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It seems to me that so long as a human adds a competitive edge to a product above and beyond to what the ai will produce nothing much will change other than some companies going bust after they made the mistake of firing people only to produce Gordian knots of slop that need to be torn down to be fixed. Productivity might increase for some sectors but it will also increase for their competitors- so where’s the competitive advantage? In the talent, again.
Still, doesn't change the gross hiring (and firing practices) of UX professionals. The field is being done away with, largely. The value they provided arguably exceeded value that even c-suite level executives provided to their company, yet usually these professionals have no stake in the company or seat at the table, unless they work at a start-up. Their value was exploited, and their reward is being fired while the company thrives.
Of course the talent shines through, but these individuals will have to vastly "up-skill" (perform new functions or skip their established practices instead potentially relying on AI) to be able to continue in product development.
Hiring managers do allude that some of these professionals will be moved to management or strategy positions, but the vast majority will be jobless if they can't adapt, if they already aren't jobless. Even with a masters in UX and/or many years of experience, it's very difficult to find a role.
AI hasn't outright replaced anyone in the field, but its effect on the workforce has been undeniable. Whether they are building a house of cards or not remains to be seen, but the people who have spent decades working in specialized UX roles will likely be the ones taking the hit in the end.
Will anybody be surprised that capitalism is further leaning into enshittification with the removal of these roles? No, I don't think anybody will be shocked.