I think for most people, access to information and learning how to use that information becomes less of a priority until it becomes an inconvenience.
That's why services like middlemen or information brokers exist because of how even the smallest bit of reliable news or rumor can give one an edge over others. Work description can range from espionage or just paying someone to tip you which horse to bet and the pay offs can be several digits saved or earned.
What people are often paying for is the convenience and time saved not going through different hoops to gain something or avoid something.
How much value would I get if I subscribed to this newsletter? How much would it cost me to learn this? or how much money I would save if I learned this?
People, especially living with wealth can readily pay for information and hire others to use that information efficiently. It's like paying a small fee to get greater returns. It's a means to open opportunities others wouldn't notice due to lack of information.
This is the type of perspective that escapes people living in the rat race. They don't invest in learning opportunities or skills to get ahead unless their current situation makes it apparent that not knowing something is inconvenient. That's why Philippine culture values education and parents will do their best to get their kids through college. This increases the probability of enhancing social mobility to escape poverty.
I pay for seminars where most would be aversive about spending just to add more certificates to my resume. Most new grads don't see this move as viable and it's a sign of underappreciating how difficulty and cruel the job market can be in this economy. But the information shared on those seminars can make or break one's application for jobs over competing candidates.
The rich pay for information advantage and the convenience that comes along with that information. This mindset eludes most people and it's one habit that keeps people poor.
Thanks for your time.
Seminars I usuallky dont go to, and when I do, only the free ones. Somehow I am not in line with getting batches and whatnot for going to a seminar, or some certificate for completing some course and/or training. But then again, I have many decades of work experience and dont have a real need for all that, apparently. Not that my customers, managers and the market at large are asking for them. Not really at least. Perhaps this will change soon, I dont know. The world is becoming more and more about showing proof of some information session. I hate it, but I can't change the world. Therefore I may need to adapt 🙂
That said, I so pay for a digital 'newspaper' centred around indepth journalism. A newspaper that isn't taking any ad-money, They just take the subscription money to fund there business. Also they established a new style book publishing company, which is doing very well as well. Their own journalist are publishing books through this platform. I truly like this independent journalism setup. A platform that takes the effort and time to view things in a 360 degrees style.
It's going to be hard to prove credentials in the future as these can be faked and why seek consult to a professional when AI chatbots can give answers directly? I think building some proof of trainings matters because no matter how many times I tell people I can do psychotherapy, I still need a license and proof of training certificate to practice it by law. AI therapists can't do that, for now anyway.
I have doubts about selling the independent journalism angle because that in itself can be a marketing strategy to sell media. Sure, they don't take ad-money but people don't readily get access to a company's books and track how money flows in and out that funds their operations. Is the money donated or those subscription payments really from individual or corporations? probably telling the truth or probably selling a story, just my skepticism doing its thing here.
Subscriptions from the users only, no corporate income and/or donations are accepted.
Any team that isn't 100% out in the open with everything, can do wrong, but these guys have a good heart. I know where they came from. But still, true, even such people can start to do wrong. That said, I am someone who isn't just going for 1 sided views. If I want to know something in-depth, I do my own research and will never form my opinions on just a single channel of information. But in between all the shitty media channels, some good channels exists 😉
In my line of business - IT - courses and trainings are pushed by the big ass software companies providing their shizzle, which we use to create solutions for our customers. Contractually, they offer purchase discounts when x number of people have this and that certificate. They are forcing us to spend tons of time to pass their exams. But much of what we learn is pretty much bullsh*t. Honestly, I don't believe in a certificate-based reputation system these companies are pushing.
So true regarding AI. Though we can expect AI to be certified for certain tasks. Perhaps for AI that isn't a bad thing. Likely it is a good thing. Like AI used by professional healthcare people. Better make sure the models are trained well, with super low levels of hallucination, or no halluciantion at all. We will see a huge influx of specialist AI models since this solves many issues the general-purpose AI models are dealing with today. Am pretty sure the professional industry, regardless the segment, will start demanding qualified AI models, systems and services. The more harm an AI can do, the more this will be demanded.
Can't disagree there~
I feel the same for how psychiatry is pushed here. Different field similar tune. I have don't need a lot of certificates to prove a point that majority of the time most are just useless information not suited for the client but there are people out there with power setting a standard that it matters and they influence how things are done sadly.
I'd like to believe it will lead to the creation of bullshit jobs to fix the type 1 error AI does, like how an editor is to the author. Lately, it just feels more jobs are just redundant and AI will make the obvious more overt since displacement will make organizations come up with positions to accommodate the displaced.
I think as well AI will replace humans in their jobs. Not all at the same time, but gradually. So gfar I dont think too many obs are affected yet. AI washing is a thing these days. Meaning, corporates firing employees stating it is because of AI. But in fact, it is not. That said, I do believe we have to change our systems quite quickly in order for humans to be able to survive. I mean, no income is no food on the table. The model of earning money to get to food is a model that may not be sustainable anymore.
And yes, oversight is needed which includes people correcting AI as well as handling the 'Ai isn't sure' events in a stream of tasks AI executes.
Qualifications are never a waste of time, even if it ends up you don't actually need what you learned for your current situation... but the time might come!
I didn't actually use my marketing degree till I was my 30s and started my own business...
Sometimes the certificates are just for show because it makes the resume look good compared to an empty section or lack of trainings. Most of the mental health webinars I've attended were already elementary for my level but no certificate no proof to back a talk :/
@adamada, you're rewarding 3 replies from this discussion thread.