They are desperately trying to replace skilled and creative individuals with AI, and I suspect workplaces that enforce or coerce the use of AI (particularly specialized AI products) are using the training data to enable this pursuit.
For example in the User Experience field (or what’s left of it), the professionals are incredibly valuable to companies that had forsaken empathy and user-centered design in their processes — they filled a sorely needed gap in product development. And go figure, you need users to be able to smoothly use your product and want to engage with your services as easily as possible to make money. No wonder the ROI of employing UX professionals is so high.
Because some of the UX design processes can be replicated by AI though, I’d argue that the the field is largely being shifted in reaction to that advancement.
UX professionals are assured that their field isn’t being replaced by AI — repeatedly and incessantly by hiring managers (who spent years bloating the field and watering down the value of UX).
UX professionals are just being shifted to taking even more responsibilites by ALSO being expected to do UI design. I’d say, in part, because AI can perform some of the surface level tasks UX professionals are known for. UX encompasses a lot more positions than design, such as being a researcher or writer. It’s all important work.
But before long, hiring managers foreshadow that they want to completely do away with the UX/UI role and shift them to Product Development/Management.
How could one wear so many hats? Likely with the use of AI to accomplish their tasks. This shift will likely include the firing of a lot of individuals (which these corporations already have done for years — they suck UX professionals of all their value and then let them go).
I have debated hiring managers of large companies and they seem pretty determined to put the entire field out of work. A field that is of incredible value to humanity. They say because it’s a “mature field” that has well-established design practices that others can tap into.
When pressed, these individuals claim that the field already doesn’t even exist anymore, and that people should just move on.
Still, doesn’t change the gross hiring (and firing practices) of UX professionals. The field is being done away with, largely. The value they provided arguably exceeded value that even c-suite level executives provided to their company, yet usually these professionals have no stake in the company or seat at the table, unless they work at a start-up. Their value was exploited, and their reward is being fired while the company thrives.
Of course the talent shines through, but these individuals will have to vastly “up-skill” (perform new functions or skip their established practices instead potentially relying on AI) to be able to continue in product development.
Hiring managers do allude that some of these professionals will be moved to management or strategy positions, but the vast majority will be jobless if they can’t adapt, if they already aren’t jobless. Even with a masters in UX and/or many years of experience, it’s very difficult to find a role.
AI hasn’t outright replaced anyone in the field, but its effect on the workforce has been undeniable. Whether they are building a house of cards or not remains to be seen, but the people who have spent decades working in specialized UX roles will likely be the ones taking the hit in the end.
Will anybody be surprised that capitalism is further leaning into enshittification with the removal of these roles? No, I don’t think anybody will be shocked.