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[ARTICLE · art-74801] src=news.ycombinator.com ↗ pub= topic=artificial-intelligence verified=true sentiment=↓ negative

Ask HN: 1950's Chip industry undermined unions how is AI not doing the same?

A Hacker News user argues that the AI industry is repeating the 1950s chip industry's pattern of undermining unions, minorities, and women, leading to flattened salaries and increased work despite companies cutting AI spending. The user claims AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude have made jobs more production-line-like without delivering returns, and predicts salaries will not recover.

read1 min views1 publishedJul 27, 2026

In the 1950s the Chip industry undermined minorities, immigrants, women and killed unions.

In the 1960-70s it targeted black civil rights groups.

Along the way, white men were pushed into management, while anything outside of business was split into smaller tasked jobs. This in return gave companies leverage to cut salaries.

I don't care what altman says chatgpt did in a blackbox. I judge the world by what I see. Reality is, chat, claude, etc etc are about as useful as smart as the stupidest, slowest engineer on the team.

On the other hand, introducing them has made the job appear more "streamline" more production line like. Work increased, and salaries flattened.

Now that companies are not getting returns off of AI, they are cutting AI spending, but make no mistake. Salaries will not recover.

What am I missing? How am I wrong?

Would love opinions on this

Comments URL: [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49064165](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49064165)

Points: 1

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