David Freund addressed concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on employment in a statement released on Apr. 15. Freund said that while there are worries about AI taking away jobs, it should be seen as a powerful tool when used appropriately.
Freund drew comparisons to historical shifts in technology, such as the transition from wagons to automobiles and the evolution of boat manufacturing. He said each advancement disrupted existing industries but also created new opportunities for workers willing to adapt.
He gave an example from his own experience with Lyman Boat Works, where manual labor was eventually replaced by more efficient tools and methods. “What changed? The tools. The methods. The expectations,” Freund said.
Freund emphasized that the real value lies not in specific jobs but in people’s ability to learn and adapt to new technologies like AI. He noted that machinists who embraced computer-controlled machines continued to thrive, while those who did not became obsolete.
He concluded with advice for workers facing rapid technological change: “When the rate of change outside of you is greater than the rate of change within you, you will become obsolete.” According to Freund, growth and learning are key antidotes to fears about AI’s impact on employment.
