So whenever I need another dose of cash, I work for Uber Eats, delivering food on my electric bike.
In the coming months, the government here in Victoria are looking to implement regulations on the “gig economy”, so Uber sent a letter, asking drivers to write their story on why we work for Uber.
The worry is that the government while trying to provide more certainty for Uber drivers, will in fact, spoil the whole thing.
Uber say 90% of drivers say flexibility is the biggest attraction, and they would no longer do it the work wasn’t so flexible.
I tend to feel the same. Getting used to uncertainty is a big part of what makes Uber empowering.
The topic firmly intertwines with transformative AI and how I believe it is already being used to reduce prejudice, empower workers and remove the anxiety caused by dealing with unnecessary human management.
So I thought I would add it here.
To the lawmakers in regard to upcoming Gig Economy legislation in Victoria Australia,
Here is my story.
After suffering from a long case of viral vestibular neuritis, stuck in a silent and dark room for months, ears screaming every piercing tone all at once, room spinning endlessly. I found myself unable to work for a year.
Once I had recovered enough to go out into the light and sound, to walk again with loosing my balance, I discovered that my nervous system was potentially damaged too much to return to my former job. An arcade game importer where I would need to be around a high dose of light and sound at all times.
So I had to put my thinking hat on (truth be told, I really need to take it off every now and then)
Before I got sick, I had been enjoying riding an electric skateboard to work. It was such an exhilarating alternative to the usual traffic jam or long wait at the train station Not only had riding that board transformed my mental health, but it had drawn my attention to the Cambrian explosion of personal electric transport on our roads.
I had the idea that riding an electric bike for Uber Eats could be perfect, as it would be flexible enough to allow me to go home whenever a migraine strikes, without feeling obliged or guilty about not doing the “right thing” by my potential brand new employer.
So I bought an electric bike, and slowly I built up a tolerance to light and sound again. Although I’m never going to be 100% I’m now able to earn more money delivering with Uber than I have ever earned in my life.
Not only that, all without feeling the anxiety towards work that working for small business has tortured me with throughout the decades of my work life.
I believe Uber is a concrete example of the power of AI to transform our lives in ways that empower and enrich us.
Instead of fighting against my boss like I have for my whole life, I’m now completely free to work as I please. My new “robot-boss” as I call it, has no private agenda, no preconceptions, no prejudices. I work hard, and I get rewarded for it. I’m nice to the customers, not because I’m told I must be, but because I feel I want to be.
The only bad part about Uber is that there is no limit to the on boarding of new workers. So accepting of everyone, that theres nothing to stop there from being too many drivers on the road. But can I complain? I was once looking for someone to accept me without question, so that’s also it’s strength. I can’t really complain.
Another sign of that lack of prejudice, is that so many Uber drivers are migrants, which I feel is very telling. Obviously Australia has a very large racism problem, and many see Uber as away to escape the discrimination they would face if their employer was human.
Instead of trying to enforce unionising ideas onto these times, I feel this model should be adopted by the government. Take a leaf out of Uber’s book. The model works. There are lazy people that have money, and there are poor people that want to work. But for so many people starting their own business is too great a step. Follow Uber. Use AI bosses to get people off the dole, and working for “themselves” under the guidance of an AI management system.
Middle management has been made redundant.
The people want to work… they just don’t want to work for mean bosses any longer.
Danny
dannycisco@nascentclouds.com