Generation Z is the first to use artificial intelligence (AI) as naturally as previous generations used the telephone or the internet. Homework, job applications, presentations – everything is left to AI. At the same time, fear of this very tool is growing. Around four in ten young adults say in surveys that AI worries them, even though more than half use it regularly. This is a contradiction that Handelsblatt columnist Thomas Prüfer addresses in his latest piece.
The Fear of Entire Professions Disappearing
For months, forecasts have been circulating in the media that AI could wipe out entire occupational fields. Particularly affected would be precisely those activities that long counted as secure jobs: clerical work, administration, documentation, scheduling, and data entry. The World Economic Forum expects the strongest declines by 2030 in administrative and assistant roles. Prüfer, however, questions whether this development is really as threatening as it seems.
The Dream of Meaningful Work
The columnist reminds us that hardly any child dreams of spending eight hours a day maintaining Excel spreadsheets or discussing the summary of one video conference in another. Children’s career aspirations are usually concrete: firefighter, animal keeper, forest ranger, paramedic, educator, or police officer. People want to do things that look like life – they want to help, build, rescue, care for, teach, or look after animals. AI could actually promote this longing for meaningful work by taking over mindless routine tasks.
Prüfer’s thesis: AI understands everything about work, but not the most important thing – the human desire for fulfillment and meaning. Instead of fueling job-loss anxiety, the debate should rather ask how AI can pave the way for more fulfilling activity.
Source: www.handelsblatt.com
