I’ve been noticing a disturbing trend lately, and I think it’s essential we talk about it. Companies seem to be imposing unrealistic and unhealthy demands on their employees, setting them up for failure. But here’s the twist: it’s not just about being cruel or demanding. I believe this trend is a deliberate attempt to justify laying off employees and replacing them with AI systems without any ethical qualms.
It’s a clever move, really. By making the workload impossible to manage, companies can claim that employees are underperforming and need to be let go. And then, they can bring in AI to ‘streamline’ processes and ‘improve efficiency.’ But at what cost?
The article from TechCrunch about Cognition offering its staff the exit door just three weeks after being acquired by Windsurf is a prime example of this trend. It’s a red flag that we need to pay attention to. Are we okay with companies exploiting their employees just to make way for AI?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Is this a trend you’ve noticed too? Do you think companies have a responsibility to treat their employees with dignity and respect, even in the face of AI advancements?