On AI, jobs, employment and self-employment....

I THINK my self-employed income has been negatively affected by AI... I say I THINK, rather than KNOW because I don't know!

However it's a reasonable theory: my blog income is dependent on click-through for both ad revenue and resource sales and AI summaries mean there's less click-through.

So it's very likely some of my reduced self employed earnings are due to AI.

However some could be due to Google's algorithm changes, or quite possible better competition taking away my traffic.

But AI isn't helping....

Or is it.... I mean I've been using AI to update my blog for months now, and the rot (ie declining traffic and revenue) has stopped.

My income has now stabilised compared to last year.

Maybe that means that my use of AI has helped me maintain a level, maybe I'm making better use of it than my competitors, I simply do not know!

So I just continue.

On possible jobs and AI....

I am aware that I could just work more hours in regular employment rather than fight this blindfold AI/ SEO battle....

The kind of jobs I'd be going for.... casework/ policy/ advice would all likely have strict rules on AI use and insist on a high level of human input, so the income there would be safe for a few years at least, at least in line with UK employment law - once you're in, it's quite hard to get sacked if you're reasonably competent.

In my current job we are NOT allowed to use AI at all when writing responses, and I'm quite happy with that, in my previous CA job face to face appointments were king, to maintain that human connection.

However even with these jobs, and with those organisations which tightly regulate AI usage, AI still impacts demand... I mean other organisations delivering similar services are going to be using AI, and if this proves more efficient, those organisations shielding their employees from it are going to suffer.

So which sphere does AI impact more for me....?

I feel like the negative impact is worse in my self-employed role... I am forced to use it to keep up, and I don't like that.

However being shielded from it I think is only going to protect me for so long... there could quite easily come a day when one MUST use it.

The good thing is when that happens, I'm more than ready...

Role on retirement

So I can just get into spoon carving and stop being an appendage to a machine!