Why AI will not free people from work or lead to social equality (greyenlightenment.com)

Contrary to popular belief, AI is unlikely to eliminate work or reduce social inequality. Historical patterns show that technological advances, from computers to the internet, have typically benefited those with existing talent and privilege rather than leveling the playing field. The current AI talent wars, with tech giants offering lucrative compensation, mirror past trends where smart, adaptable workers thrive while those less equipped struggle. Moreover, AI excels at repetitive tasks but still struggles in complex, adversarial environments like competitive markets and creative industries, limiting its ability to fully replace skilled human roles. The notion that AI will free people from work oversimplifies how labor evolves with technology. Instead of reducing workloads, AI often shifts work toward new tasks such as managing AI systems, integrating workflows, and customizing outputs—activities that require ongoing human effort and expertise. The example of Substack’s growth amid the rise of large language models highlights how high-quality, nuanced human content still commands a market alongside AI-generated material. Additionally, the need to navigate multiple AI tools, deal with their limitations, and meet rising standards means productivity gains do not translate into significantly less work. Overall, AI’s impact is more about reshaping how and what we work on rather than eliminating work or closing social gaps. Those with talent and resources will continue to adapt and prosper, while technological change alone cannot resolve deeper societal challenges of meaning, fulfillment, and equitable opportunity.