AI-proof? Younger workers desert the digital world for traditional crafts (www.theguardian.com)

Younger workers are increasingly abandoning digital roles in favor of traditional crafts, driven by the disruption caused by AI in white-collar jobs. As automation and AI technologies threaten entry-level positions across sectors, many young graduates are turning to heritage trades, such as bookbinding and metalwork, that require dexterity and human craftsmanship, which AI has yet to master. For example, Eryn Lawley, a former politics graduate, has found satisfaction in becoming a bookbinding apprentice, emphasizing the value of hands-on work as a meditative and fulfilling experience amidst a rapidly changing job landscape. This shift carries significant implications for the AI and labor markets, highlighting a growing demand for skilled artisans in areas traditionally overshadowed by technology. Companies like the Folio Society and Cox London are now promoting human-crafted products, rejecting generative AI tools to support the creative workforce. The rising interest in these crafts signifies a desire for tangible skills and originality in an AI-dominated future. Furthermore, organizations like the National Theatre are encountering a surge in applications for technical apprenticeships, indicating a growing recognition of the need for skilled manual crafts in both creative sectors and beyond.