NYT: WTF IS AI & HOW THE HELL IS IT GOING TO FIX THINGS ?

 



Globalization may appear like a different kettle of fish, but there are major parallels. 


The era of rapid and largely unfettered globalization that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union is over. It benefited Western consumers and multinational corporations, who got access to inexpensive labor overseas. Workers, not so much.


What will replace globalization is less clear..



. It could be a fragmented system, in which countries trade with allies and friends, with broadly similar flows to what we are seeing today (say, less of China and more of Vietnam). 


It could be one with high tariffs and much less trade. 


It could also be a combination of trade restrictions and industrial policies, such as the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS Act, which are designed to encourage more investment and manufacturing, especially in advanced electronics, electric cars and renewable technologies, to stay in or to relocate to the United States.



This change is also slow and has significant implications for workers. 


The promise of new manufacturing capabilities could lead to new job opportunities and possibly higher wages.


 On the other hand, new manufacturing competencies cannot be built overnight, and skills shortages can choke off industrial renewal. Alas, once again, the United States and especially its work force isn’t ready.


The good news here is that we have time, and if we grab the opportunities presented by aging, A.I. and the new globalization, they can all serve to improve one another. 


The skills that employers and schools need to tackle each of these huge shifts are similar. 


Moreover, the right kind of A.I. can greatly help us navigate the challenges posed by aging and the reshaping of globalization.



The bad news is that these issues are not getting the attention they deserve, even though they are much more important for our future than debates about price gouging, taxes on tips or whether inflation is one point higher or one point lower. 


Unless we focus on them and act decisively, they will not just be mismanaged but also may spell a more dire future of work.



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