WITH the rise of ChatGPT, many people are experiencing hopelessness. The technology threatens all kinds of jobs, causing in some people a new form of anxiety that is directly related to artificial intelligence (AI).
While anxiety surrounding the development of new technology and AI is nothing new, the arrival of ChatGPT has changed the game considerably.
Anxiety related to AI is a cause for serious concern, despite the promise of the technology creating new jobs.
ChatGPT is proving to be a source of anxiety even among people with advanced qualifications and experience. From employees to managers, no one feels safe from being replaced by artificial intelligence. This is known as AI anxiety, or "AI-nxiety".
Because of its high performance and constant evolution, ChatGPT has become the cause of increasing alarm for professionals whose skills could one day be performed entirely or in part by the AI-powered chatbot. The development of competing technologies by Google and other tech firms is not likely to calm anyone's nerves.
What's more, ChatGPT can list the jobs that are directly threatened by its prowess. These include data entry, proofreading, translating, bookkeeping, market research, organising trips, moderating online content and writing articles. Even job recruiters can be under direct threat from AI.
Some sectors have already been affected by AI, particularly the media, with more and more newsrooms (BuzzFeed, Wired and Bild) incorporating content created or assisted by AI.
But there are many jobs that AI cannot do yet, like artists, police officers, surgeons and midwives.
When technology makes a major advance, humans have often feared for their future and their jobs. This form of anxiety dates back to the 18th century and the development of the first machines to replace workers, especially in textile mills. In the 20th century, the emergence of computers caused the same fear. Today, it is AI's turn to trigger anxiety.