DeepSeek: What is new with this AI technology ? (2025-03-31)

Is GenAI Coming Faster Than You Think?

If you're a fan, no. You're chomping at the bit, waiting to get everyone using GenAI models in their work. If you're skeptical, then you might think it's never coming to take your job, be a personal assistant, help you with coding, etc. Pick the task it won't help you with.

A more nuanced view, which is similar to mine, is from Kendra Little, in which she says AI will eliminate DBA Jobs Faster Than You Think, I'm not quite as pro-AI as Kendra, mostly because I see so many companies that are slow to change, slow to adopt new tech, slow to adjust their thinking. They just soldier on and keep running their business, as they've been doing for decades. Even when you might make a case for change, or prove it's worthwhile, they just don't spend the time to change.

Make no mistake, change takes time. And time is a valuable and limited resource. Even if you don't appreciate time's value, many of you still don't want to spend time on new things.

In the piece, Kendra notes that she has been using an AI Agent to help get work done. She sees that agent getting better at tasks and helping her get work done quicker. At some point, she knows the GenAI agent will be able to help her do the work of multiple people. Not eliminating DBA jobs, but reducing the need. Can we have 3 DBAs instead of 5 or 10? Can we get down to 2, or even 1 with a part-time DBA service?

I do think that GenAI models and agents will help people get more work done, which might reduce the number of people an organization needs. However, I see no shortage of work in most organizations. In fact, I know of a few friends who can't seem to hire a talented DBA. Perhaps a GenAI agent can support them and help them get work done without the need for a DBA. Not now, of course, but maybe in a year or two.

However, humans still need to be in the process, and I suspect, even with an AI agent for every human, there's still a lot of work to get done. I'm not convinced this will reduce employment. I think it could increase employment, though the bar for employees will rise.

At least in some places. In some, they'll keep doing the same thing they've been doing since 2001, or 1994, or 1983.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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