PAPER 2: PLANNING TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT

OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Jack L. Woodman
OGL 340: Artificial Intelligence: The Human Side
Bill Erwin
02/23/23

Total Word Count: 1603 words

 PAPER 2: PLANNING TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF AI

Addressing the Economic/Political AI Issues

My Organization Plan

In order to address the economic and political issues that the age of implantation of AI

will bring my organization will have to be extremely adaptive and willing to fall in line with

automation. Like I mention in my first paper companies like white castle are “hiring” robots to

be fry cooks. While my human resource company is not in need of burger flipping robots, we

could use AI to automate things like general finances and wages. In the sections that are

automated we can realign these employees to more human sections such as complaint resolution

and customer service. Additionally, some of the profits that are generated by using artificial

intelligence can be used to either grow employee compensation or introduce benefits like free

meals.

The political side of implementing AI is more difficult to address as a singular company.

I feel that a smaller company such as my own would need a lot of help from other companies to

get the attention of the current US government or the people of the US. In an ideal world my

company would be able to utilize the profits generated to lobby politicians to create laws the

soften the impact of the implementation of AI. These laws that my company would push for

include a retraining program for those that experience job loss as a result of AI such as truckers

and many white-collar jobs. Like Andrew Yang suggests these laws and programs would be

funded by companies including my own paying a value-added tax on company profits (2018).
My Personal Plan

My personal plan to address the economic and political issues of AI within my life is

already in work. Like every other student currently in this class I attend school online and I

encourage the use of programs that check for things like plagiarism. I attend school online so I

can make a better life for my family and myself and help raise our economic standing. I can

prepare myself for the economic impact of the implementation of Artificial Intelligence by being

willing to adapt to the systems that will use AI . The best way for me to change how AI affects

my life politically is simply by voting. I need to vote for the candidates that I feel will be willing

to adapt to AI and create laws that lessen the impact that AI will have on the working class.

Politically I do find myself agreeing with Andrew Yang on the subject of compensation

for our political leaders. Increasing their compensation while they are in office and expressly

prohibiting them from moving into industries that were affected by the regulations they helped

pass should allow them to focus on the issues presented by their constituents. This should allow

them to actually address issues that will be caused by artificial intelligence such as the

displacement of the truckers that is coming. Like others I am unsure if Andrew yang’s freedom

stipend would really work. I would need to see more research and data from united states sources

to make a better determination if it would work in my life.

Addressing the Sociological AI Issues

My Organization Plan
 To address the sociological impact of artificial intelligence my company would take an

approach that could be broken down into three parts. The first part would be to conduct

companywide training or seminars on how artificial intelligence is being implanted in the

company and how our people might be able to adapt. The second part of our approach would be

bias training geared specifically towards the employees that would be responsible for

implementing artificial intelligence programs in the company. The purpose of this training would

be to try and stamp any bias or implicit bias that these employees might otherwise encode into

the system. The third part would be a comprehensive retraining program that would provide

skills training in the areas not affected by artificial intelligence. This retraining program would

also be used as an incentive for worker that were completely displaced by the implementation of

artificial intelligence.

The time that and money that my company would benefit from would be put to good use

to address some of the sociological impacts of artificial intelligence. In addition to the above

plan, we would offer more social events such as parties and outings. Something like a company

paid paint and sip event or paid for trips to local areas of beauty to do things like hiking. The

final thing we would use this time and money for is to investigate reducing the hours worked by

our people without reducing their pay. Something like moving from a five-day work week to a

four-day work week so our people can spend more time with their families.

My Personal Plan

My personal plan to address the sociological impact of artificial intelligence in my life is

quite simple. I will need to continue my education on the impacts of artificial intelligence after

this course and through the course of my life. Artificial intelligence will continue to get better
and change and I owe it to my family to stay educated on the subject, so that we do not end up

being displaced by it. I must also keep them advised of the dangers that artificial intelligence can

present if companies misuse the data collected. My son who isn’t even two years old yet loves to

speak to his google home device and has no idea what he is doing. Much like Kai-Fu Lee

suggests we do, I want to preserve my family’s privacy around artificial intelligence (2018).

Addressing the Psychological AI Issues

My Organization Plan

My organization’s plan to address the psychological issues that artificial intelligence

would be to increase the strength of our health care plan. We would need to work with our

insurance provider to ensure that mental health coverage is included in our employee health plan

at no additional cost to our employees. In these negotiations with the health care insurer, we

would also work towards lowering the costs of the medications that may be prescribed to our

employees that help them deal with potential automation anxiety and depression. We would

make it completely understood to our employees that seeking help with these issues is
completely acceptable and covered by the company. We would also develop a process to review

employee complaints should these employees feel they are ever retaliated against for seeking this

help.

My Personal Plan

While it is not due to automation anxiety, I currently attend therapy for issues like what

those displaced by artificial intelligence might face. My personal plan to deal with automation

anxiety I might face working in a white-collar job is to continue seeking the therapy that I

already attend. If I am in a situation in which I find somebody has automation anxiety I would

attempt to show them different ways to view the problems, they are facing so they are not as

overwhelming. Additionally, I will always recommend that someone go to therapy if able and

possible cheaper alternatives to therapy. For those that are unable to find work as a result of the

great displacement I would recommend several of the free retraining programs I am

knowledgeable already. I would also refer people to the military or other government work as

many governments jobs cover health care or are willing to train workers in new fields.
(Optional) Other Impacts of AI

My Organization Plan
none

My Personal Plan
None

Conclusion

In summary there is much a company and even I can do to potentially lessen the

impact that artificial intelligence will have on our lives. Companies should develop

retraining initiatives that allow employees to cross-train and move into different positions

in the company less affected by artificial intelligence. We as individuals can vote into

political office for the people that we feel would best address the issues that will arise with

great displacement. Our companies can lobby our politicians to pass legislation that could

soften the effects that impact will have on our economy. Companies should also develop

and implement programs that allow their employees to express their creative side and

enjoy the company of their coworkers without the employee having to worry about the

costs. The companies that see gains in both profit and time as a result of artificial

intelligence should investigate things like a four-day work week. To address the
psychological impacts of artificial intelligence companies should bolster their employee

health care plans to include therapy and reduce the employee cost of medication that allow

them to deal with anxiety that AI might cause.

In my own life I need to continue my education on the effects artificial intelligence

will have on our society. I will do my best to keep my family unaffected by the great

displacement and try to keep our privacy intact from companies that might use my

information predatorily. Additionally, I agree with Andrew yang on how politicians should

be compensated while in office and how politicians should not be able to work in the

industries in which they regulated after leaving office. To assist those that are

psychologically affected by artificial intelligence I will always recommend therapy. Finally,

I will use my knowledge of retraining programs, government and military jobs to make

suggestions to those that need to find new jobs due to automation.