Is AI taking jobs from disabled workers ?
By Bart Vulliamy
Artificial intelligence has captured my imagination in movies and books for 30 years . AI is not a new concept ; it was first mentioned in 1956 and first implemented that same year . The definition used by Merriam-Webster puts it simply as , “ the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent behaviour .” This differs from the concept of automation which requires humans to set up a machine to perform specific tasks in a certain order .
The concept of artificial intelligence involves getting computers to perform tasks usually performed by intelligent beings , i . e ., humans . Machines are being taught to research and make decisions and are now able to complete tasks . Predictive writing and autocorrect , currently used by the program I ’ m using to type this , are examples of technologies powered by AI . But what happens when the person typing is replaced by a computer to provide this content ?
Two questions I ’ ve been asking myself while I ’ ve been job hunting : what jobs can I do right now as a person with an intellectual disability , neurodivergency plus the skills and training I already have ; and where are those jobs ?
Creative writing , data entry , bookkeeping , coding / programming , photo editing , web design , data analysis , technical writing , and the arts have been replaced by artificial intelligence in the last few years . These are also , coincidentally , the top jobs sought after by disabled people .
One example of AI taking over jobs is happening right now in Hollywood . Alongside the traditional disputes over pay and job protections , AI technology has become the wild card in the contract breakdowns that have led actors ’ and writers ’ unions to go on strike in 2023 . Business leaders want to use AI to write scripts , taking away jobs and stealing from artists and writers to save money . Money is the entire reason that businesses
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