A human could have checked me out without error. But because this $69B corporation decided it was best to replace a human with a self-checkout machine, it lost my $7.00 that day. I sat there realizing the mistake as I looked at my receipt sans the $7.00 nail polish I had in hand, I thought, well that is about a half an hour’s worth of work they decided not to give to a human. So, I decided I didn’t feel all that bad about it, stashed the bottle on the shelf, and went on with my day.
No one was at the counter. If there had been, I would have checked out with a cashier like I always do. And so, I used the machine, and the machine made a mistake. Humans make mistakes, too, of course. But machines don’t have to eat. They don’t need housing or healthcare. They don’t have children or pets to feed. They don’t have the ability to feel suicidal when they can’t find a job. You get the gist.
Although the copy machine in “Office Space” took quite a beating after it constantly fucked up with its “PC Load Letter” error message, machines have their place in this world, absolutely. I like to think about a sewing machine as an efficient way to make clothing, but to sew by hand takes care and precision. I use both. When I am making something (yes, I make clothes and other fabric things), I have to decide which option is best for the outcome of whatever it is I am sewing.
In this case, a self-scan machine was not the best choice because it resulted in a missed stitch. Did the corporation unravel? Nope. So, was everything okay? Yep. But it’s still a noticeable glitch in the seam. Hardly noticeable to the naked eye, but for anyone out there who is only qualified for a cashier job but can’t get one because the company installed self-assist machines in lieu of a human, trust me, it’s a noticeable discrepancy.
I can already hear people whispering or thinking quietly, but humans must have a job to make that machine. This is where things are going to get more controversial because a 2019 study revealed that of the 75,000 retail jobs lost (I’m sure there are more since then), most of them were occupied by women. Men were able to pick up the jobs that were created by the machine revolution – namely delivery driving and warehouse work. And so, a lot of driven, hard-working, ambitious women were left jobless.
So, once again, it’s the women who take the hit. I’ve discussed women in creative being at a disadvantage, but damn. Is this just more proof that women today are being set up for failure? And despite the fact what you’re reading at this very moment would make you believe otherwise, I am not even a feminist, like, at all.
Artificial Intelligence is doing the same thing to professionals with creative talent, advanced degrees, and even 20, 30, and 40+ years of experience. Adobe Photoshop has AI integrated design tools now that does – in just seconds – what used to take creative professionals many hours to do. ChatGPT writes anything in seconds.
