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by fredfoobar 313 days ago
I don't think this is a fair comparison, software development is very complex, but an electricians job isn't, it's very simple but it's high consequence.

Software development may seem simple for a lot of people here on HN, but trust me, I can do the electricians job easily, but an electrician won't be able to do my job. The regulatory environment which requires the "apprenticeship" is a totally different topic and doesn't inform anything on the skill required to do the job. Also, the electrician apprentice gets paid while learning on the job, the software developer in training doesn't.

2 comments

To the poster (nunez?) who was lamenting about me apparently claiming blue collar jobs are easier (and then deleted it when I was writing this reply):

1. I didn't claim that.

2. Yes, I did say it's "high consequence", but technically, comparing skill to skill, it's MUCH easier. I've done a ton of electrical work (along with plumbing) on our old home, there are a great set of safety rules to follow (and gear to use) before "touching the wrong wire".

> I can do the electricians job easily, but an electrician won't be able to do my job

Watch out. Soon AI can do your job easily, but it can't do an electrician's job.

> Soon AI can do your job easily, but it can't do an electrician's job. [he said gleefully]

do you really want an Amercian to lose a job to AI?? Also, why do you think I can't become an electrician after AI apparently "does my job" (or a plumber, I'm a better plumber than an electrician)

anyway, it's fine, you don't seem to have any idea about software development or how AI is actually going to help me more.