Court reporters outmatch the technology in skill, but the profession faces another crisis: a shortage of workers
So far it seems like it is more a case of the technology being brought in because there are not enough workers than the technology simply replacing workers.
As for the "shortage" of reporters, it might be true that there are fewer of them due to retirements. But if supply shifts to the left the price (or in this case the wage) would rise. Fewer reporters would be employed at a higher price. But the quantity demanded would equal the quantity supplied. But if these are government jobs, the wage might not be allowed to fully adjust to market conditions (and if the wage was not fully determined by market conditions in the first place maybe the term shortage is not appropriate in this case).
Excerpts:
"The profession has become an example of AI’s limitations in replacing human skill in the real world. In an actual courtroom, court reporters record nonverbal cues like gestures and transcribe through distracting courtroom noises like coughs or door slams. Other times, they must gently ask witnesses to repeat themselves while recounting traumatic testimony."
"The threat isn’t that AI can do the job better, legal professionals say. It’s that too few humans are going into the field. A long-brewing shortage has worsened as more stenographers retire and too few newcomers complete the rigorous training to replace them."
"Instead of relying solely on traditional court reporters, more courts are allowing “digital” reporters to operate the recording equipment and certify transcripts."
"North Dakota phased out using stenographers this year and switched to recording all proceedings. The lack of court reporters is one reason."
"The National Court Reporters Association says AI-assisted transcription remains prone to errors. “Nobody can take over the integrity that we bring,” says Cindy Isaacsen, the association’s president."
"Others counter that the technology is improving"
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"Since the 1970s, when automated teller machines arrived, the number of bank tellers in America has more than doubled. James Bessen, an economist who teaches at Boston University School of Law, points to that seeming paradox amid new concerns that automation is “stealing” human jobs. To the contrary, he says, jobs and automation often grow hand in hand."
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"a long trail of empirical evidence shows that the increased productivity brought about by automation and invention ultimately leads to more wealth, cheaper goods, increased consumer spending power and ultimately, more jobs.
In the case of bank tellers, the spread of ATMs meant bank branches could be smaller, and therefore, cheaper. Banks opened more branches, and in total employed more tellers, Mr. Bessen says.
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