AI and Containers : Transformation of Work Styles by generative AI Deciphered from the Container, the Greatest Invention of the 20th Century

KOUJI MIKI

First of all, I would like to ask you to compare the two pictures.

The first is a photo of a strike by the National Screenwriters Guild protesting the introduction of generative AI into the workplace.

The American Screenwriters Guild strike revealed concerns about generative AI’s impact on the creative process and its ability to replace human screenwriters. Demands are being made for fair wages, better compensation, and assurances that generative AI will not replace screenwriters in the future. The dispute highlights widespread tensions within the creative industries regarding the use of generative AI and its potential to replace human labor.

The case of comedian Sarah Silverman suing Meta and OpenAI for copyright infringement exemplifies the legal and ethical complexities arising from generative AI’s capabilities. The strike is not just a Hollywood issue, but a labor issue that resonates in many sectors around the world, such as the outsourcing industry in the Philippines and concerns over unfair labor practices in Kenya.

A protester holds a sign that reads “AI has no soul” as SAG-AFTRA members hold a “Let’s Rock the City for a Fair Contract” rally in Times Square in New York City on July 25, 2023. https://themarkup.org/hello-world/2023/07/29/the-writers-strike-over-ai-is-bigger-than-hollywood

Striking Gulf Coast workers lecture on improved conditions with the introduction of containers in the 1970s.

This photo captures a pivotal moment in the 1970s. It shows a strike by offshore brokerage (Gulf Coast workers) against the shipping industry’s rapid adoption of containerization. This technological transformation promised efficiency, but it also threatened to reduce labor demand and the resulting lower wages and job losses.

Workers holding placards stating the position of their local union faced the wave of change to protect their livelihoods in the face of transformative innovations that would fundamentally change global trade and labor practices. Their united action echoes the universal story of workers trying to navigate the stormy waters of industrial transformation.

The transformation of labor through the introduction of disruptive innovation technologies has happened repeatedly.

Throughout the ages, waves of disruptive innovation have repeatedly affected people’s lives and labor: the Gulf Coast workers’ strike upon the introduction of containers that began in the 1960s was a moment when the technological innovations of that era shook up the existing labor structure and forced them to adapt.

Unloading in the Gulf prior to 1950, mostly done by hand by offshore brokers.

Prior to 1950, unloading in the harbor depended primarily on the physical labor of dockworkers. The photograph provided is emblematic of that era. In this photo, workers are seen using their hands and shoulders to transport large barrels from the ship to the wharf and vice versa.

Their work relied heavily on muscular strength and coordination. In the photo below, containers are being efficiently loaded by cranes, showing how this innovation is dramatically changing cargo handling operations. This innovation changed the nature of dockworkers’ jobs and had a profound impact on the entire industry that followed.

Early containers in the 1950s.

Malcolm McLean, Father of the Container

Invented by Malcolm McLean in 1956, the container is hailed as the key invention of the 20th century and fundamentally changed the world of marine transportation. The advent of the container changed the work of numerous offshore brokers, who were once responsible for handling cargo.

Trends in the growth of containerized shipping to the global shipping industry since 2000

Since the introduction of containerized shipping, the global shipping industry has undergone dramatic changes. Containers have greatly improved the efficiency of cargo transport and contributed significantly to the expansion of international trade. Some of the key changes include

1. Efficiency and time savings: Containers have dramatically improved transportation efficiency by reducing loading and unloading times.
2. Cost savings: Labor costs have been significantly reduced due to the elimination of manual loading and unloading operations. In addition, standardized containers have facilitated the movement of cargo between various modes of transport (ship, rail, and truck), lowering logistics costs. As a result, the work of offshore brokers was also greatly reduced.
3. Expansion of international trade: The increased efficiency and reduced cost of container transport made international trade easier and more economical, contributing significantly to the growth of the global economy.
4. Infrastructure development: Port facilities around the world have undergone extensive redevelopment to adapt to containerized shipping, creating new logistics infrastructure.
5. Environmental Impact: The increase in containerized shipping has also led to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions from shipping, making environmental impact a major topic of discussion.

Containers and generative AI, an era of changing labor quality

The introduction of containers caused a stir among Gulf Coast workers in the United States in the 1960s. They opposed the introduction of containers and went on a spectacular 10-year strike.

They were forced to change their roles from loading and unloading cargo by hand to operating cranes and planning by computer. This represents a major shift from physical labor to brain labor and symbolizes how technological innovation can change the nature of labor.

In the modern era, we are once again facing a similar phase: the advent of generative AI has affected many occupations, most notably the recent strike by the National Screenwriters Guild in Hollywood to protest the use of generative AI in the writing of film and television scripts. This is just one example of the impact of generative AI on the labor market, with many professionals facing the possibility of losing their jobs.

Offshore brokers’ jobs have changed from physical labor to intellectual labor, such as operating container cranes and developing and operating systems for optimal container loading on vessels.

However, with new times come new hopes. Just as offshore brokers (Gulf workers) once transformed their jobs and found new roles, so too can generative AI-affected workers find new roles: as generative AI operators, they need a more efficient and creative way to get the job done. The evolution of technology always brings new opportunities. We need to learn from the past and step forward into the future.

List of industries impacted by the adoption of AI (from McKinsey report)

The wave of technology is relentless, changing the way we live and work from moment to moment. As the container revolution has shown, the age of AI also presents new challenges and opportunities for humanity. We must keep up with the wave and build a new future. Changing times always open new doors and present us with unknown possibilities. If we open those doors without fear, a new world will surely unfold.

In the era of the container revolution, many Okinakabushi lost their jobs due to technological changes. However, they adapted to the new labor market by embracing new technologies and changing the way they worked. Today, in the age of generativeAI, we need to adapt in the same way: instead of being afraid of being replaced by AI, we can build a richer working environment by taking advantage of AI and manipulating the new technology with our own hands.

The generative AI era is moving from an era of intellectual work to an era of imaginative work.

The wave of innovation brought about by the age of generative AI will take us into the sea of creativity. The role of screenwriters and scenario writers is transforming from an intellectual task to a more profound realm of imagination. Words, once spun with sharp intellect and brushstrokes, are now entrusted to generative AI like ChatGPT.

Just as the introduction of containers has shifted the work of Okinakashii to intellectual work, the introduction of generative AI will make the work of screenwriters more about imaginative work.

In the midst of this transformation, we turn to new sources of creation. Techniques of reflection, such as yoga and meditation, will be key to exploring the inner world of the creator in this new era. The imagination that lies deep within has unlimited potential, and tapping into it will be at the heart of future creative activity; unlike the cold computational abilities of generative AI, the human imagination is formed through an intricate web of experiences and emotions. This inner journey becomes a journey to discover the fountain of creation that transcends the chaos of the external world.

True creativity in the age of generative AI comes from this profound introspection. And this journey will be the greatest challenge and highest grace for all creators.

In the age of generative AI, the ability to explore one’s inner self and weave a new imagination from there becomes even more important

This is the story of the relationship between technology and humanity, from the past to the present and into the future. Just as containers have revolutionized, generative AI is also changing our world. But instead of fearing it, we can embrace it, see new opportunities, and create a better future. What the new wave of technology will bring to us is in our own hands. By learning the lessons of the past, confronting the challenges of the present, and moving forward into the future, we can open the door to new possibilities.

In order to tap into true creativity in this era of drastic changes in the nature of work, we are currently holding a zenschool to extract the meaning of life in the age of generative AI through meditation and dialogue. If you are interested, please see the following page.

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References Book
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