SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Unless performed by celebrities, gigs are mostly underrated all over, Goa is no different. We identify it as not a serious career option, but rather some temporary freelance performance or service done in informal settings. For some reason, gigs are identified in music and stage performances, but with online platforms growing exponentially, gig workers have been in demand as they have formed a link between the customer and the supplier. Leave aside celebrities that perform gigs as part of their publicity campaign, while earning through other sources of income, let’s focus on those gig workers who are trying to earn that extra income to beat India’s stubborn inflation and the ever-growing unemployment, to make a decent living.
Last month this writer had red flagged some careers that could be severely impacted with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and that ChatGTP could just be that starting point. Since then we have had a spate of bad news coming out of the Western hemisphere. Banks have gone bust both in the USA and in Europe, which translates into more job losses and while UBS has stemmed the rot for the moment by bailing out Credit Suisse, we cannot be sure that the problem is fixed. Relentless layoffs by the Big Tech continues and with Accenture announcing worldwide layoffs it’s just a matter of time these layoffs are going to impact India, notwithstanding our so-called resilient economy. Accenture’s 40 percent work-force comes from India.
The ongoing situation is definitely worrisome, but instead of getting too anxious about the future, the Generation Next may have to plan their careers differently. For students who have already chosen their vocation, now might be a good time to really check out the future viability of the industry you chose and the longevity of your job function. One needs to find out if the career you are planning to take can be accomplished by AI in the near future. Although our decision will be based on the data available in the public domain about AI, one thing is certain AI is not going to extinguish the entire job market. Better sense will prevail and humans will not allow complete domination by AI. What might happen is that it will shrink the job market, which means the best will not only survive but even thrive with AI being used as a tool to upgrade employee skills and output.
Lots have been written about the Big Tech layoff and while the headline numbers look rather big, the actual percentage of employees made to go is still a miniscule one. It means all is not lost for the smart and the deserving, and to be just that, employees will have to be on their toes, upgrading their skills at every opportunity, and more importantly adding value to the enterprise.
AI is sure to take away many present day job functions and make them redundant, but will also open doors to new and advanced job opportunities. The Internet has been with us for a long time, but did any of us envisage users would make one minute videos by themselves with or without post production teams and make a killing using the internet. You have an idea that captures the audience's imagination the money is there for the making. What turned out to be side gigs has turned out to be career making opportunities. AI opportunities are not coming knocking the next day of the launch, but will evolve as it gets popular with more user involvement. The idea is to keep your eyes wide open and take it with both hands when the opportunity arrives.
Technological advancements have their advantages and disadvantages and therefore bound to be used or abused by the good, the bad and the ugly. The choice is yours. Either you become a 24 hours 2 Rupee per tweet troll promoting a political party’s agenda on Twitter or focus on creating content that adds value to users. Even if you did the right thing and your content is a hit among users, be prepared AI might make better content making you redundant. In short the Generation Next cannot afford to be complacent, chances are it might be short lived and replaced with technology.
Goans have always been into gigs and while most of it is informal in nature, government bureaucrats are already burning the midnight oil to find ways to make it formal. A formal gig economy is always in their interest, as it allows them to collect taxes, the more taxes they collect the more their job remains relevant. Nobody is suggesting that Goans into gigs should evade taxes, but a suggestion to the government, please do not tax the hell out of an industry that is still in a nascent stage.
Performing gigs on the side is going to be the norm for many who are already into serious careers, not because it creates extra cash, but it cushions the downside and acts as a buffer, just in case your main career takes a hit due to AI. Future employers will have to accommodate their employees performing gigs and employees on the other hand will have to be more transparent and take their employer into confidence before taking on a gig. Taking consent should be ideal and no company should tolerate their employees doing gigs on their time and without consent. It’s just a matter of time employers and employees will come out with clear rules on how to handle employees doing private gigs. Both parties will have to give and take, because there is disruption seen ahead in the job market due to AI, employees will need to focus on multiple sources of income to survive and transparency between both parties will save the blushes.
(The author is a
business consultant)
