Is AI Efficiency Just Code for Headcount Reduction in Consulting?

Corporate AI pitches sell efficiency but often mean headcount reduction. Spencer and Dave discuss how job losses to AI have already happened at large research firms through restructuring. Spencer details deployments in customer experience with AI kiosks, multi-cloud data integration to inject AI, and coding tools that spit out near-complete solutions fast. Early client quick wins include document and PDF automation for accuracy and compliance. Dave contrasts AI with blockchain, calling the latter a slow fancy spreadsheet with limited adoption while labeling AI a probabilistic non-deterministic chaos agent wired into mission-critical systems including government, creating moral and ethical risks. They debate whether AI growth drives more value or just job replacement. Spencer says younger workers reject butts in seats, use AI tools, and focus on driving value. Healthcare and professional research are heavily impacted while some sales roles grow and sustainability field scientists stay less affected.Timestamps:(00:00) Corporate AI pitches sell efficiency but really mean headcount reduction – Spencer says job losses to AI have already happened at large research firms through restructuring(06:23) Blockchain is just a slow fancy spreadsheet with limited adoption – Dave contrasts it to AI as a probabilistic chaos agent wired into mission-critical systems including government with moral and ethical risks(12:04) AI growth sparks real unemployment fear – the debate on whether it creates more value or just replaces jobs(12:44) Younger workers reject butts in seats and use AI tools to drive value – healthcare and research hit hard while some sales roles grow and sustainability field scientists stay less affected🌍 Connect with us: Instagram | YouTube | X