I'm not talking about the Terminator or the Matrix here. This is more about the near-term.
Let's say AI does help (mostly office workers) eliminate 30% of their work. Do we think big corporates will let their people use that 30% freed up time to learn, innovate, have better work-life balance? Or do you think they will cut 30% of the workforce and keep the remaining people doing even more work?
There's always been this 'promise' that with each innovation, that we'll have more free time. We are at the peak of innovation and technology for our species, but most of us are busier than ever. There are growing rates of burnout across the board. We work harder and longer than during any period in history.
I'm not against innovation or AI or technological improvements, but we need to make sure that corporations don't use them to just cut their people. The goal for corporations is to reduce costs and if they can get rid of someone to save a dollar, they will do it without a second thought.
We need a different perspective and relationship with work. Get rid of this expectation that everyone needs to give 100% all the time (unrealistic and unproductive). People are not a resource to be exploited. Having a good workplace and be able to take breaks should be the norm.