Monday, December 30, 2024

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Tim O'Brien, filling in for Fred Roggin on The Roggin Report, tackled two critical issues: the rise of AI in the workforce and declining fertility rates.

In San Francisco, startup Artisan is creating waves with provocative billboards urging businesses to "Stop hiring humans" and embrace their AI-powered sales agent. Artisan's CEO claims the ads aim to disrupt and draw attention to their technology, which promises cost efficiency and no human flaws, such as absenteeism. However, contributors Stephanie Green and attorney Brian Harnick pointed out the complexities. While AI offers significant benefits, Green noted that even Artisan relies on human employees, emphasizing the irreplaceable human touch in many industries. Harnick added that technological shifts have always reshaped the workforce, but full replacement remains unlikely.

The second topic addressed a global issue: declining birth rates. The U.S. fertility rate has dropped to 1.62 births per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Japan, facing a similar crisis, plans to implement a four-day workweek for government employees in 2025 to encourage family growth. Yet, Harnick dismissed the approach for the U.S., suggesting cultural differences make it impractical. Instead, he advocated for creating conditions that inspire confidence in starting families, including addressing housing costs, healthcare, and societal support for families.

Green highlighted additional factors such as health issues and lifestyle changes, urging a multifaceted approach to reverse the trend.

The engaging discussions underline that while technology and societal norms evolve, solutions require collective adaptation and understanding.

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