AI Will Eliminate Many Jobs, But Not Buying and Selling, Says E-commerce Celebrity

Taiwanese e-commerce personality "Mr. 486" Chen Yanchang has weighed in on the rapid development of artificial intelligence, stating that while AI will undoubtedly displace numerous jobs, it will not eliminate the core concepts of buying and selling.

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AI will eliminate many jobs, but it will not eliminate buying and selling.

Chen acknowledged concerns about AI's transformative power, admitting that jobs in translation, customer service, copywriting, design, administration, accounting, and even programming are already changing. He noted that tasks previously requiring ten people might soon be manageable with just two or three assisted by AI, leading to workforce reductions and potential job elimination.

However, Chen's analysis leads him to believe his own "group buying" business is relatively safe. He asserts that in a capitalist market, the fundamental dynamic of buying and selling will endure as long as individual needs vary and resources are not infinitely available for free. The principles of supply and demand, he argues, are immutable.

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Some jobs will indeed be greatly impacted. Translation, customer service, copywriting, design, administration, even accounting and programming – the way people work is changing.

He further elaborated that AI will not destroy business but will instead weed out those entrepreneurs unwilling to adapt. Chen explained that traditional advantages like information asymmetry, heavy advertising, or price differentials will become less effective. AI empowers consumers to research prices, compare specifications, read reviews, and even identify the best products independently.

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In the future, what will truly have value is not just putting things out for sale, but whether you can select the right products for consumers, whether you have credibility, whether the service is good, and whether you dare to take responsibility when problems arise.

Ultimately, Chen believes the true value in the future will lie not just in offering products, but in a seller's ability to curate the right items for consumers, build trust, provide excellent service, and take responsibility for issues. While AI can assist in product introductions, Chen stressed that trust, commitment, and accountability remain human responsibilities. He concluded that while the act of buying and selling will persist, not all businesses will survive; the ones that fail will be those that refuse to change with the times.

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The times have never eliminated an industry, but rather those who see the world has changed yet insist on not changing themselves.