Founders are using tech to solve problems - so-called work-ethic issues - created by business owners who refuse to actively listen, offer better workplace benefits, or treat employees fairly.
In many non-tech industries—especially mom-and-pop stores—labor is seen as replaceable, leading to inadequate wages, poor training, and hostile work environments.
While this isn’t universal, it is common.
This is why self-employment through platforms like Ola, Uber, or Swiggy is appealing—independence outweighs poor workplace conditions.
Using AI to sweep these issues under the rug feels like a step backward.
A more fundamental issue is the frustration people experience when unable to secure employment that aligns with their educational qualifications. As long as individuals continue working in positions they haven't freely chosen, this dissatisfaction will persist.
This is true. In a recent conversation with an electrical shop owner, he mentioned that electricians prefer to work for bigbasket and zepto where they can get 25-35k with also the freedom of wanting to not work when they don't want.
I think India's service cost/salaries will increase from the bottom of the pyramid with costs rising slowly for each sector.
Amidst the rant of Piyush Goyal, I think the gig economy definitely does good for the country. Just by giving access to a 20-30k job for the many, this does great good.
This sounds right. While we don't know if AI will eventually replace middle managers, I do see corporate leaders actively testing this hypothesis, especially for non-tech roles. Those of us in senior-mid management in (thinking vs executing roles) are now being actively encouraged to execute with AI. While everyone is going to have varied degrees of success, I certainly believe that folks in the junior track will have to think long and hard about their roles and what would make them indispensable in their teams.
True. I believe the impact of AI would be sudden and not gradual unlike previous technology advancement. The right time to rethink career for young folks is now!
Humans will find a work around to any systems or process but to solve this with combination of approaches - AI enabled productivity tools, monitoring, empowering, provide better work environments, meritocracy, reward structure, etc..
Good article, Dharmesh.
Founders are using tech to solve problems - so-called work-ethic issues - created by business owners who refuse to actively listen, offer better workplace benefits, or treat employees fairly.
In many non-tech industries—especially mom-and-pop stores—labor is seen as replaceable, leading to inadequate wages, poor training, and hostile work environments.
While this isn’t universal, it is common.
This is why self-employment through platforms like Ola, Uber, or Swiggy is appealing—independence outweighs poor workplace conditions.
Using AI to sweep these issues under the rug feels like a step backward.
A more fundamental issue is the frustration people experience when unable to secure employment that aligns with their educational qualifications. As long as individuals continue working in positions they haven't freely chosen, this dissatisfaction will persist.
True, and more vocational schools aligned to opportunities would help too!
This is true. In a recent conversation with an electrical shop owner, he mentioned that electricians prefer to work for bigbasket and zepto where they can get 25-35k with also the freedom of wanting to not work when they don't want.
I think India's service cost/salaries will increase from the bottom of the pyramid with costs rising slowly for each sector.
Amidst the rant of Piyush Goyal, I think the gig economy definitely does good for the country. Just by giving access to a 20-30k job for the many, this does great good.
Good example of electricians. Thanks!
This sounds right. While we don't know if AI will eventually replace middle managers, I do see corporate leaders actively testing this hypothesis, especially for non-tech roles. Those of us in senior-mid management in (thinking vs executing roles) are now being actively encouraged to execute with AI. While everyone is going to have varied degrees of success, I certainly believe that folks in the junior track will have to think long and hard about their roles and what would make them indispensable in their teams.
True. I believe the impact of AI would be sudden and not gradual unlike previous technology advancement. The right time to rethink career for young folks is now!
Humans will find a work around to any systems or process but to solve this with combination of approaches - AI enabled productivity tools, monitoring, empowering, provide better work environments, meritocracy, reward structure, etc..