AI won't take Woodworker's Jobs...Right?

There has been plenty of buzz around this new world of Artificial Intelligence we now live in...and who knows where it's going in the future.

But for once in my life, I’m optimistic, that I could be ahead of the game.

In my earlier career, I worked in Radio, as a Copywriter. That simply means, I wrote radio ads. Someone was always trying to invent a computer program for radio writers, that would consist of generic templates, where you inserted the client's name into a pre-formatted script and it would all end up being a bland world of boring, vanilla radio ads; lacking in creativity. To this day, I occasionally listen to the radio and think, it may have already happened, as the quality of ads don't seem to have moved much with the times and they're still churning out stuff I hated doing and tried to change more than a decade ago.

But now with ChatGPT...AI could easily write radio ads. People are going nuts for that thing.

If I were still a copywriter, I'd be worried about the future of my career. And I can see how companies that love to save money, won't have much of a problem switching to AI for all kinds of tasks…and people will lose their jobs. Such as at call centers, customer service and tech support. I already felt like I was chatting to a bot recently, when I had a parcel go missing from Amazon.

And there's a host of other jobs that are on the line. For example, apparently the opening credits for Marvel's TV series 'Secret Invasion' was created using AI.

Here's why I dream that I'm ahead of the game as a Woodworker/Maker. Many were fearful when Industrialisation, Mass Production and Computers came along. However artisans and craftspeople still found a place in the world where work with their own hands was appreciated. And in recent times, I feel like makers and craftspeople have reached a kind of renaissance; as customers are out there looking for something different, than all the mass produced stuff we see everywhere.

This explains why there are still enthusiasts for vinyl records. It's not just the purists who believe in the sound quality. It's the ritual of taking a record out of the sleeve, dusting it and placing it on your turntable. Even cassette tapes are making a bit of a comeback. Sure, most of the world is playing music off their phones, through a crappy little bluetooth speaker...and that makes them happy.

Photography hobbyists are rediscovering film cameras. Again, most people are happy with the cameras on their phone. But there are those explorers out there, seeking that analogue experience. With physical buttons, dials and clicks and the anticipation of waiting to see what they created, when the prints and negatives return from the developer. It wasn't long ago that you could pick up an old used film camera for nicks. Nobody wanted them. Now, some models are going for hundreds, even thousands of dollars. I came across a business the other day that specialises in selling vintage cameras from Japan - Japan Camera Hunter

So in my case, when I make something with my own hands out of wood. It usually finds a buyer who appreciates the tactile feel and look of real wood – not plastic, or something that's been printed to look like wood.

Maybe in the future, more people will want these gems that have been carefully crafted by the hands of a real person. It's has a story behind it – a talking piece. You can tell people where you found it and who made it. This makes you feel like a brave explorer, who seeks out new or nostalgic experiences.

I even wonder if some of the people who face redundancy because of AI, will discover that they can make something that interests them; gives them a sense of fulfillment, that they didn't have before and finds a audience who appreciates their work.

Now, unlike some YouTubers who might reveal at the end of their video, that it was entirely scripted by AI...

This was actually written by me. As I mentioned earlier, I used to make a living as a writer, so it's a skill I have acquired over many years. I’m not claiming it’s the best thing you’ll ever read, But these are thoughts from my own head. Which means, I don't really need to bother with ChatGPT. However it does tend to concern me, that future generations won't have a clue how to write, or even think for themselves...and that would be sad.

Anyway, it's time to head back to my humble workshop and make some more sawdust...

Carry on...