I think the whole return-to-office thing is the ultimate signal that a board and CEO don't "get it".
Most corporates aren't startups, in manufacturing or working for defence/intelligence agencies.
They can survive accommodating flexibility, especially when most of the productivity issues that arise with remote work are from their failure to invest properly in technology.
For fun, are any of these companies simultaneously cancelling every outsourced or offshored capability? If not, why not?
The official stats may still look rosy, but you’re right: the real story is in the people who vanish from the labor force, or drift into ‘consulting’ and gig work that papers over structural change. We’ve been here before — 19th-century mechanization, the Great Depression — but what’s different this time is speed and scope.
My own framing is that AI isn’t creating a “fourth industrial revolution” so much as accelerating a winnowing — not of jobs alone, but of institutions and narratives that kept people feeling secure. You don’t have to agree with every line of Andrew Yang to see that when CEOs start worrying aloud about their own kids’ job prospects, the cultural weather has already shifted.
I don’t think the real crisis will be unemployment rates. It’ll be what happens when millions of people technically employed feel surplus to requirements — still drawing checks, but no longer convinced they matter. That’s when politics gets strange.
im not sure about the dominant Neo Western perspective here
My company's dev team is in Vietnam - we are thriving and at costs that provide adequate profit and little incentive to "AI" my team away I also like working with people.
i note my staff buy houses for ~ 250k(usd) and have little education debt . They drive scooters and spend more time with family. We offered work from home and they prefer an office to .work together.
perhaps more focus should be highlighted on the absurd rent seeking ijn housing and education and western stockmarket growth expectations.
making these salaries of 150k usd "essential to live"......
I'm more inclined to think AI will find some strong use cases in various industries, but in many cases it won't work as desired. The tech sector does have form in overselling its wares
Most corporate jobs are fake anyway. Good riddance!
bullshit is the correct term isnt it :P
You’re shrinking my topic coverage because you’re doing such good job covering AI! All that’s left for me to explore is the adaptation angle. 😂
AI is the future, EP! There’s plenty of room for all we Substack pontificators.
Nice work on the viral note!
I think the whole return-to-office thing is the ultimate signal that a board and CEO don't "get it".
Most corporates aren't startups, in manufacturing or working for defence/intelligence agencies.
They can survive accommodating flexibility, especially when most of the productivity issues that arise with remote work are from their failure to invest properly in technology.
For fun, are any of these companies simultaneously cancelling every outsourced or offshored capability? If not, why not?
Thanks, Brennan - it almost makes up for all my Substack content that has disappeared without a trace!
And hear, hear! to your remarks about RTO mandates!
The official stats may still look rosy, but you’re right: the real story is in the people who vanish from the labor force, or drift into ‘consulting’ and gig work that papers over structural change. We’ve been here before — 19th-century mechanization, the Great Depression — but what’s different this time is speed and scope.
My own framing is that AI isn’t creating a “fourth industrial revolution” so much as accelerating a winnowing — not of jobs alone, but of institutions and narratives that kept people feeling secure. You don’t have to agree with every line of Andrew Yang to see that when CEOs start worrying aloud about their own kids’ job prospects, the cultural weather has already shifted.
I don’t think the real crisis will be unemployment rates. It’ll be what happens when millions of people technically employed feel surplus to requirements — still drawing checks, but no longer convinced they matter. That’s when politics gets strange.
im not sure about the dominant Neo Western perspective here
My company's dev team is in Vietnam - we are thriving and at costs that provide adequate profit and little incentive to "AI" my team away I also like working with people.
i note my staff buy houses for ~ 250k(usd) and have little education debt . They drive scooters and spend more time with family. We offered work from home and they prefer an office to .work together.
perhaps more focus should be highlighted on the absurd rent seeking ijn housing and education and western stockmarket growth expectations.
making these salaries of 150k usd "essential to live"......
Good point, Jimmy! I hope you're right about some industries resisting the onslaught of AI.
I'm more inclined to think AI will find some strong use cases in various industries, but in many cases it won't work as desired. The tech sector does have form in overselling its wares
The reason the bosses hate remote work is that it reduces the scope for petty tyrannies.
Yep!