I briefly considered that thought as I posted. But universities have been
around about 1,000 years, so I think likely they will still be around 10% longer.
I think UH getting folded into another system in next 100 years is more likely.
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i agree with that, texas will have to consolidate some colleges as costs keep rising and UH just doesnât have the alumni and legislative support to stand; UH will not make it to its bi-centennial
One pitfall is those were one year leases. So they arenât in the same building every year.
My angle is more so that universities wonât really have a purpose anymore
The entire paradigm of school and jobs will likely be vastly different
I do think trade school will still exist, but the modern college experience as we know it wonât exist anymore
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That could well be true. The thought that most everyone should aspire to go to college is ridiculous. And it seems that several fields of study serve little to no benefit to modern society.
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The University system isnât going away until we find a different way to produce and gatekeep research, especially in the humanities and physical sciences. Iâm skeptical that will happen in the next century.
I also doubt that the trades will be much safer than university education; if AI comes for white-collar jobs, robotics for blue-collar ones wonât be far behind.
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Who thinks that?
Student loan officers.
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I think they will as long we have people interested in learning new things.
And there is a lot of ground in philosophy and science to still be explored.
We simply donât know everything.
And looks like UH is tearing down the 1 story, 85 year old, Technology Annex to
build an innovation hub. Donât care for the aesthetics of the new building, but the future looks bright âŠ
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Blue-collar jobs, will be fine.
Itâs the entry white-collar jobs (really just adult daycare) that are probably in trouble. Iâve always been of the mindset that there are just not enough good paying, white-collar jobs for everyone. Plenty of blue-collar jobs available thoughâŠ
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Iâm extremely confident youâre wrong about that. Even discounting the fact that robotics is quietly advancing in the background, if white-collar jobs go away, demand for blue-collar labor will shrink massively â Are unemployed people hiring folks to renovate their kitchen or their bathroom? Are office buildings being built and maintained to house AI agents? Whoâs buying a new home if far fewer people have money? â and there will likely also be a massive increase in supply at the entry level as people in careers that are no longer viable are forced to switch. Nobodyâs gonna have a good time.
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Agree white collar jobs are in the crosshairs now; I think blue collar will
follow at some point in time (10+ years ?). Or do you think blue collar work
will never ever go away ?
Itâs also worth pointing out that itâs not strictly white-collar office jobs that are at risk. Fast food workers, drivers, warehouse jobs, cashiers â all of these are already being perceptibly and undeniably replaced, among others. In other words, the kind of stopgap jobs that people take to make ends meet when their normal one falls through.
I still retain a healthy bit of skepticism about whether AI will really eliminate jobs en masse â the Jevons paradox counterargument is compelling, as is the argument that itâs still too expensive to be profitable â but if it does, weâre staring down the barrel of an economic crisis significantly worse than the Great Depression.
Entry level white-collar jobs. And besides, most entry level white-collar jobs can likely be outsourced to India or Vietnam.
While robotics technology has advanced, it is not to the point where it can show up to my house and change my vehicleâs oil. Much less do a head gasket repair job.
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Perhaps. But as of now, most blue-collar jobs should be safeâŠ
Itâs the entry level white-collar jobs (grunt work) that is likely to be automated.
I certainly donât believe a CPA with 5+ years of experience will be replaced by AI, for example.
I just canât foresee any AI electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, masons, etc. They may have better tools, but thatâs it.
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Itâs not there yet, but itâs not as far off as you think. Onboard computers already do a ton of diagnostic work, and there are patents and prototypes for repair robots.
(When we get there, itâll probably still be you driving to the dealer â or your car driving itself â but itâll look a lot more like an automated car wash than a current mechanic shop.)
Likewise, if you believe CEOs, mid-career white-collar professionals are already being replaced with AI. (Having some personal experience with a company attempting this â if your company needs a data analyst/engineer, PM me! â I have my doubts, but nevertheless.) Oracle just laid off 18% of their workforce, and that certainly wasnât all entry-level. White-collar jobs across the economy are getting gutted right now. Finance and Tech are having a really rough go of it.
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It already happened once. When computers took over. Lots of entry or menial office work went away. We did ok after.
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AI coming for your White collar job today AI + Robotic coming for you blue collar job tomorrow.
