Tech Giants Defend AI Development
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Source: Fortune.com
Summary
As AI development continues, companies are struggling to maintain public opinion. According to Pew research, 50% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, up from 37% in 2021. To combat this, tech companies are hiring top comms experts, paying up to $400,000 a year, to control the narrative around AI’s impact on society. Adobe, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Perplexity are among the companies hiring for communications positions, offering salaries significantly higher than the U.S. average. The hefty pay packages signal a hunger among tech firms to take the reins of their company’s narrative as public opinion on AI sours.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Big Tech is willing to pay top dollar for comms experts to shape the narrative around AI’s impact on society. AI companies are hiring communications directors, paying up to $400,000 a year, to quell growing skepticism among investors and the public. This is a clear acknowledgment that AI’s PR problem is a major concern for companies.
The announcement sounds familiar.
AI’s PR problem stems from mass layoffs, with 1.2 million jobs slashed last year, and companies using AI as an excuse for routine headcount reductions. Add to that the uncertainty around AI’s payoff and sustainability, and it’s clear that companies are desperate to control the narrative.
The strategy enters a familiar phase.
Companies are leveraging storytelling to turn the tide on public opinion. They’re hiring comms experts with storytelling expertise to demonstrate how AI drives better customer experiences and business results. This is a classic corporate move to distract from the real issues and spin the narrative in a more positive light.
The numbers are just a distraction from the real issue: the growing fear that AI is causing mass layoffs. With 1.2 million jobs slashed last year, it’s clear that companies are using AI as an excuse for routine headcount reductions. The real question is: what are they going to do to address this growing concern?
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Original Observation: This is a classic case of companies trying to control the narrative to distract from the real issues.
