Embrace AI Or Buh Bye

working for an AI bully

I was recently invited to apply, and interview, for an internal position in another department at work. The final two candidates were myself and one other person.

They ended up hiring the other person. Why? “The main reason we chose her is because she’s embracing AI.”

Per company policy, I had to tell my current boss that I was going to be interviewing for another job so he was aware throughout the process. However, when I found out recently that I didn’t get it, I had to “close the loop” (as they say here in corporate) and tell him that I’m staying put. We chatted about it for a bit and I mentioned the AI thing as one of the reasons why I lost out and my boss told me that we need to change my thoughts around AI. Do we though?

I have issues with AI. First off, I sincerely do not need it to do my job. I’m an Administrative Assistant and am very capably handling this position without having AI help me write an email asking someone if they can reschedule their 2:00 next Thursday. Like, let’s be so fucking for real. But then we get into the ethical and environmental issues with it as it currently stands. I’m not one of these oldsters, shaking my fist into the sky, cursing a new technology. I educate myself about AI, I listen to experts, and pay attention to people who use it - and those who are pushing it most. I’m pretty aware. And I still disagree with it. Especially as someone who tries to write creatively and adores those who do the same. There’s a lot of reasons I am not comfortable using it, and I don’t think I need to welcome it with open arms

Well, this morning my boss mansplained AI to me and told me that if I don’t embrace it, I will eventually have no job here in his department. He then doubled down and said that I probably won’t have a job within the company at all long-term. Oh no, will Artificial Intelligence and capitalism leave me behind??

But also, I think it’s complete bullshit. Over half of the population oppose the use of AI in its current format. There are issues with sourcing, accuracy, privacy, noise and environmental pollution, and wildlife being displaced to build data centers. Among other reasons for why it’s problematic. But yet, my boss thinks I should run his Outlook calendar through AI, have it identify conflicts, and suggest solutions. Hey, how’s about I just use my eyes and brain? I think that’ll be quicker!

The expectation to dumb myself down (in my particular case, that is essentially what my boss is requesting) to performatively use AI, or lose my job, is actually outrageous to me. And to suggest that the company I work for, which employs many thousands of people, will no longer have jobs for anyone that’s not on board with AI seems like a pretty reckless take for him to be spreading.

What are these companies, that are moving full speed ahead on the AI train, going to do with employees who have ethical issues using AI? I proposed this question to my boss and he clearly had not considered it. Will every employee who takes issue (whatever those are) with the use of AI be sent to the unemployment line? That’s obviously not a message that my company has expressed but, clearly, as “management”, my boss seems to think this is the direction things are going. And, believes so much in that sentiment that he thought he could… dare I say… lightly threaten any place I have within this gigantic organization going forward? I mean, he already told me my job in his org is as good as gone if I don’t hop on board.

What are companies and corporations going to do with people who take a stand against AI?

Obviously the writing is on the wall for me here in my current department. But I can rest easy knowing that I was able to reschedule his lunch next Monday to a day that works better for him in July. And I did that all without wasting a drop of water, or compromising my values.

me at work not using AI