I just got in a fascinating argument where I had to calm down an employee and supervisor, because I asked the Right questions.
I refused to use the new Kiosk at Costco to order a Ceasar salad. I almost did it, but I just couldn’t. I pulled out my card.
I told the girl I didn’t need help, I could use the kiosk but it was costing too many jobs.
She jumped at telling me this was adding jobs and a supervisor joined in to try to explain this, and I dropped this.
“It is not true that automation is adding jobs across the economy.”
They said that the increase in proficiency in a rush has made them send more people from the front during peak hours.
I replied, “then it shows you don’t have enough people working registers during peak hours.”
He replied, “there isn’t enough room for more registers.”
I returned with, “that’s a problem of the layout of your food court. This kiosk proves you could employ more people without it, not with it.”
…and then I pointed to the Hot Dog price of $1.50.
“If this was about money, you would raise the price of your hot dog for the first time since 1987. That’s a loss leader. This whole food court is a loss leader to draw in more customers. Now tell me that the fact they don’t have kids bagging groceries at Walmart is adding jobs for teenagers.”
They almost lost it. I calmed them down.
“Look I’m on your side, this is a great company so I am just dissapointed. My Dad works for Central. We talk about automation all the time. You need to be able to answer questions like this. And it’s bigger than Costco.”
Plus having to do someone’s job that we should otherwise be tipping them for is complete bullsh☆t.
Then I ordered from a nice old man that should be retired that will be replaced by a machine. And jobs for teens are more than ever, nowhere to be seen.
And we wonder why Millennials aren’t in the position to buy the luxury items, cars, and homes that drive this American Ponzi scheme.
Dale Carnegie’s father lost his livlihood as a loomist and he died a pauper. Automation and a new economy made his son a multibillionaire in today’s dollars. In the past automation has created new jobs we didn’t even anticipate would exist, like phone sex operators and bike messengers.
But this next wave fueled by AI and the same old short sighted collective greed is not like any shift before it. It’s the end of something.
You know teenagers are going to do for money to buy these stupid products we brainwash them that they must have?
Anything. And it’s sad. It’s not their fault. Not every teenager is positioned to create a Ponzi scheme tech start up in the dot com bubble of the late 1990s.
Rant over. Costco is cool. The kiosk. Not so much. I don’t want to be trained to work in their food court. I am not into paying for that internship. The salad was the same price as it was a month ago. The hot dog was the same price for Ronald Reagan.
In the end, we all make choices. Data is being collected on how we choose. Automation. You too can make sure it’s bad optics.
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com. Davin’s new song has become a global earworm and Caribbean dancehall hit. Listen here on Reggaeville: DAVIN MICHAEL STEDMAN & ANTHONY RED ROSE – FREE YOUR MIND FEAT. SLY & ROBBIE WITH LENKY MARSDEN. The video is now available on Youtube: Tuff Gong Television. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is available here.
