ChatGPT is revolutionizing work. This AI-powered chatbot is able to provide sophisticated answers to any query, and has even managed to pass an MBA exam. Since it was first made publicly available in 2022, debates have erupted about whether or not Artificial Intelligence will take away from jobs. Additionally, the same technology has also been used to lighten the burdens of unpaid domestic labor. From planning meals to creating grocery lists, many have begun to use this software to make their lives easier. ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI could become common fixtures in American households, reminiscent of familiar virtual assistants such as Alexa.
Although AI could be beneficial, it still may not make a substantial impact when it comes to challenges like the amount of time spent doing housework, or the inequality in labor distribution which still persists. ChatGPT can help with making schedules, finding recipes, and creating a family budget, yet it cannot do things such as cooking meals, washing dishes, or taking out the trash. Furthermore, there is the need for human oversight even in the matters which it can aid with, and some may still require more Google searches to find the correct information.
For example, Carole Alalouf from Montreal found that the software gave her exotic recipes which she and her picky eaters had not previously considered. Although this could be an advantage for some, it also brings about a higher demand for variety in diets. This could translate to additional hours spent shopping and cooking, due to the requirement for unique ingredients for all the recipes.
As this technology is developed and fine-tuned, it is important to note that it might bring with it unintended consequences such as this. Despite the fact that ChatGPT can take away from some tedious tasks, the time saved may not be significant, at least not until it can also handle the more difficult and managerial aspects of domestic labor. Thankfully, the introduction of AI to the home could still benefit women who do more of the unpaid work, even if only minimally.
ChatGPT is a company based in Stockholm, Sweden which was founded by Algogenerai in 2021. Their technology focuses on conversation and is used for applications such as virtual assistant platforms and customer service chatbots. They provide open-source solutions and solutions tailored to the customer, to create automated conversations that are natural and engaging.
Raina Kumra is the founder of Spicewell, an American company which makes household spices. She is a mother of two in Santa Monica, California, where she used ChatGPT to find summer camps for her kids this year. She was able to get a comprehensive list of activities to sustain them during the whole summer, with only a few edits. While the AI was able to do much of the work, she still had to do some additional research to make sure each camp was legitimate. This ended up saving her much needed time, emphasizing the potential benefits of AI-assisted domestic labor.
