Ask HN: What happens when AI doesn't need human tools?

5 points by SuboptimalEng 144 days ago | 7 comments

Right now many companies are in cost-cutting phase, so here is an AI thought experiment.

50% less white collar jobs -> 50% less productivity SaaS apps needed (slack, gmail, notion, jira, msft word, many more...)

Once company downsizes -> businesses that depend on said companies "growing in size" also lose.

AI doesn't need Slack, Jira, etc. That's just how we humans communicate. But AI can work directly with databases and store data more efficiently.

What now?

(FWIW, I do think AI is very useful. I use it daily to help me with engineering work. No arguments there.)

578_Observer 144 days ago |

Writing this from the Japanese countryside.

You are absolutely right. SaaS is basically a business of monetizing "friction" between humans. If AI removes the friction, the business model evaporates.

But here is a perspective from my culture: We have a word called "Tema" (手間). It translates to "time and effort," but it implies that the act of taking time is what creates value/trust.

In the efficiency-obsessed economy, Tema is considered a bug. We use SaaS to kill it. But if AI automates all the logical work, I believe humans will start paying a premium for "High-Tema Activities."

Things that are intentionally inefficient. Handshakes instead of Docusign. Physical retreats instead of Zoom.

The collapse of SaaS might force us to realize that "Efficiency" and "Richness" are actually trade-offs. We are just resetting the balance back to the human side.

rzolin 144 days ago |

Why would AI need human tools? We need them, and if we delegate our lives and jobs to AIs, then we will be all alone. Do we want that?

SuboptimalEng 144 days ago | |

That's exactly my question.

If there are fewer engineers, then there will be fewer dev tool companies, and fewer managers, etc. meaning fewer Slack, Gmail, MSFT, Zoom subscriptions, etc.

Companies are showing good profits, but if every company downsizes, then every company loses... right?

So, what happens now? (To the economy, lets say.)

SonOfKyuss 144 days ago | | |

Likely some combination of feudalism and Oligarchy.

SonOfKyuss 144 days ago | |

Is it really delegation if we aren’t given a choice?