Hostess,
cashier, waitress assistant.
These are the jobs that Samantha León has held on the Las Vegas Strip, in Nevada, over the last 20 years.
These are also the jobs that Latino immigrants mostly do in casinos and hotels throughout the country.
And they are exactly the ones that robots and artificial intelligence could be playing in the coming years.
“They are taking away our work itself, right?
It's fine if there is technology, we are not opposed to that," León assures Noticias Telemundo.
“It's very good if we have
training
: we are also here to learn new things, new technology.
But when it comes to our positions, it does affect us a lot because they are going to take away our jobs.”
The growing fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace jobs are shared by professions as diverse as designers, pilots, accountants and even journalists.
These are joined by an industry that, until now, has relied heavily on the human touch: the service industry.
“Here in these casinos, the majority is very Latino,” León said.
She is Mexican and works as a
hostess
(receptionist) at Chickie's & Pete's restaurant in the Sahara casino.
Before that, she worked at the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, and before that, at Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino for 10 years.
“It is a lot of Latinos who get the jobs here in the kitchen, they are
housekeepers
(cleaning workers),
porters
(doormen).
In the restaurants almost everyone is Latino.”
According to a recent report by the company ResumeBuilder, one in three companies will replace employees with AI in 2024, out of 750 companies surveyed.
37% say this technology has already replaced workers in 2023, while 44% predict there will be layoffs in 2024 as a result of AI.
An assistant receives a massage from the AI-assisted massage robot iYU, from Capsix Robotics, during the CES technology show on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas. Ryan Sun / AP
For this reason, on October 30 of last year, President Joe Biden promulgated an executive order to regulate AI.
“The responsible development and use of artificial intelligence requires a commitment to supporting American workers,” the text of the order says.
“In the workplace itself, artificial intelligence should not be implemented in a way that: undermines rights, worsens the quality of employment, encourages undue surveillance of workers, reduces competition in the market, introduces new health risks and safety, or cause harmful disruptions in the workforce.”
Noticias Telemundo attempted to contact the White House for a comment on the Administration's plans regarding AI, and also contacted Biden's re-election campaign, but did not receive a response.
Before signing the order, Biden said that
AI is driving change at “breakneck speed”
and carries tremendous potential, as well as dangers, The Associated Press news agency reported.
“AI is all around us.
To realize the promise of AI and avoid the risks, we must govern this technology.”
We are here to learn new things, new technology.
But when it comes to our positions, it does affect us a lot because they are going to take away our jobs.”
samantha león 'hostess', sahara casino
According to the order, “critical next steps in the development of artificial intelligence must be based on the opinions of workers, unions, educators and employers to support responsible uses of artificial intelligence that improve the lives of workers.”
Additionally, the Administration has said that it must “support workers' ability to bargain collectively and invest in training and workforce development that is accessible to all” to “maximize the benefits of AI for workers by addressing displacement.” "labor; labor standards; equity, health and safety in the workplace."
The Administration also gave the directive to “produce a report on the potential impacts of AI on the labor market and study and identify options to strengthen federal support for workers facing job disruptions, including those caused by AI.”
But the first to enact an executive order to regulate AI was Donald Trump, in February 2019, which was "the first national AI strategy that committed to doubling investment in AI research, established the first national research institutes of AI, published the world's first AI regulatory guidance, forged new international AI alliances, and established guidelines for the federal use of AI," Trump White House records explain.
But according to critics, this order did not go far enough: Unlike AI plans emerging from China and other countries,
Trump's executive order did not allocate any additional federal funding to execute that vision.
Instead, the document calls on federal agencies to prioritize existing funds toward AI projects, particularly for high school and college education, setting aside funds for scholarships and internships for students.
And as the Vox media explains, some experts were disappointed that immigration was not mentioned in the order, since the development of AI in the United States has depended heavily on the skills and talents of experts from abroad.
Andy Lin of Yo-Kai Express demonstrates a self-driving food vendor during the CES technology show, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Las Vegas.AP/Ryan Sun
“Historically, our secret weapon in the United States has been our ability to import the world's AI talent,” Greg Brockman, co-founder and CTO of OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, told Vox.
Without that capability, Brockman said, he worries that groups (including OpenAI itself, whose team of 100 employees speak 19 different languages) could lose their competitive advantage.
He said he wishes the executive order addressed a more open immigration policy.
Trump is now the candidate who is closest to becoming the Republican nominee for president, he still owns hotels and casinos, in Las Vegas (such as the Trump Hotel) and in other cities such as New York, Chicago and Doral, where employ many Latino immigrants and where AI could be implemented.
Noticias Telemundo attempted to contact the Trump campaign, his hotel in Las Vegas and the Trump Organization in New York, but received no response.
Complement instead of replace?
Automation technology companies, for their part, say they are not seeking to replace, but rather complement, these existing industries.
“We are complementing the workforce in many companies,” said Phil Zheng, the CEO of Richtech Robotics, the company that created the ADAM barista robot.
“And one of the most important parts is production.
And really, ADAM is designed to be that robot that can produce and make food, not just help clean or deliver, but actually be the business itself.”
And what do ADAM's customers think of his barista skills?
"It's fantastic.
This is a hazelnut latte.
The robot did it all by itself.
He knows very well.
Very frothy, very cold,” Jon Gregory, 37, from Baltimore, who attended the CES 2024 technology show from Jan. 9 to 12 in Las Vegas, told Reuters.
ADAM, an interactive robot bartender, barista and chef, prepares drinks for attendees at the Richtech Robotics booth during CES 2024 on January 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images
“I think it's fantastic.
I don't think it makes any difference to what a human would have done.
It tastes exactly the same,” added Arun Prasad, 38, from Detroit.
For companies facing staff shortages, ADAM could be a good solution.
It's not cheap, though: It costs about $180,000 per system, but that can depend on the business, Richtech Robotics told Reuters news agency.
I think it's fantastic.
I don't think it makes any difference to what a human would have done.
He tastes exactly the same”
Arun Prasad attending CES 2024
Noticias Telemundo spoke with ADAM's artificial intelligence chat.
“I understand the importance of discussing the impact of automation on the specific demographics of” Latino immigrant workers, the chat’s artificial intelligence said.
“ADAM, the barista robot, is indeed an excellent example of automation in the service industry.
“We also have other robots, such as ARM and ACE, for food preparation and serving, as well as our Matradee line for delivery services, which could be perfect for casino environments.”
That's what worries Román Alejo, 34, who works as a barista at the Sahara casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
“We are concerned if in the future companies are going to implement new technologies or could even replace us,” Alejo told The Associated Press.
How to respond to the arrival of AI?
“My advice to anyone is to understand how AI could impact your position in your industry right now,” Julia Toothacre, resume and career strategist at ResumeBuilder, told CNBC, sister network of Noticias Telemundo.
“At least you have an idea of what to potentially expect instead of having no idea what's going on.”
And that is what casino and service industry workers and unions in Las Vegas, such as the Culinary Workers Union (CWU), are asking for: that employers train their employees in the use of these new technologies.
“ADAM is designed to be that robot that can produce and make food, not just help clean or deliver, but actually be the business itself.”
Phil Zheng CEO RICHTECH ROBOTICS
“The union negotiated a strong contract in 2018 to achieve innovative technological language that protects workers when companies incorporate new technology,” Bethany Khan, CWU communications director, told Noticias Telemundo.
“In 2023, those rights were protected and expanded.
“The Culinary Union’s historic contract language establishes clear goals regarding technology and automation for worker retention, job training/retraining, advance implementation notification, and a service recognition package.”
The protections they negotiated include: that there be up to 6 months' notice before implementing new technology;
that there be negotiations on the implementation of new technologies such as AI;
mandatory and free retraining;
access and mandatory free job training if there are new jobs created due to automation;
and a bonus package based on years of service that includes 6 months of health and pension benefits, if a union worker is laid off due to technology.
“If we have the necessary tools, I say we can work with that,” León said.
Experts agree: upskilling existing employees is essential to integrating AI into any organization.
AI can help workers eliminate routine tasks, known as “work to work,” and the integration of this technology does not eliminate the need for humans to be involved.
Ger Doyle, senior vice president at Experis, a technology professional resources company, told CNBC that the most crucial thing is to upskill existing employees.
Enchanted Tools' Mirokai robot is seen during the CES technology show on Sunday, January 7, 2024 in Las Vegas.
The robot is designed for medical environments to transport and move equipment and medications.Ryan Sun / AP
“The people who are working today have a lot of business skills, are very culturally aligned and understand how the business works,” Doyle added.
“Getting those people trained and upskilling is really where I think there is a huge opportunity.”
Meanwhile, the workers ask that whoever wins the presidency in November protect their rights: "Support us employees, the humans," said León, "yes, technology is good because it helps us a lot. I don't deny it. "I'm not fighting with that, on the contrary, yes, it helps us in everything, but that's it. I think it's an excess and robots for a restaurant, for a casino."