Used to swear by automation, then a layoff story got me thinking.

I set up scripts to handle my boring tasks so I could focus on big stuff. Hearing how a pal got let go after his role was automated made me feel pretty torn about it.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_brooke10d ago

So when @the_quinn mentioned kiosks, is the real goal just cutting costs, not helping workers?

the_quinn10d ago

When you said automation "straight up deleted the job," that clicked for me. Look at fast food places installing ordering kiosks - they're not retraining cashiers to be chefs, they're just cutting staff. I watched my local spot go from five registers to two humans and a row of screens. The promise of moving people to new work often turns out to be empty talk when the bills come due.

the_felix10d ago

Honestly that's kinda chilling to hear about your pal. You set this stuff up to make life easier, not to make people disposable. Tbh I figured automation just moved people to different tasks, not that it straight up deleted the job with the person still in it.