AI fixes locks and traditional trades are losing their customers

AI fixes locks and traditional trades are losing their customers

The lock was fixed in 30 minutes without calling Paco the tradesman. AI made it possible. But the immediate saving hides a deeper problem: skilled labour is disappearing and tax pressure is making it ever more expensive.

The price of trades: abusive, or a consequence of taxes

Some argue that the prices charged for manual work are simply abusive, taking advantage of customers' lack of time and know-how. Against that stands the argument that the tax burden on the self-employed and businesses drives up the hourly rate, and that extra cost ends up being passed on to the end user. The result is that more and more people fend for themselves: changing a tap, fixing a toilet cistern or hanging a lamp no longer requires a professional, just a tutorial and some patience.

The disappearance of the trades and generational replacement

Traditional trades will disappear when the few Spaniards still practising them retire. The shortage of workers is obvious, and replacement by foreign workers seems inevitable. But there is also a cultural issue: the previous generation had more of a DIY culture, whether out of necessity or habit. Nowadays it seems people won't even cook for themselves.

AI as a tool for empowerment

AI has changed the rules. There is no longer any need to search the internet through ads and blogspam full of affiliate links: AI gives you the answer directly. One example: a young man claimed unpaid overtime from a hotel with a legal letter generated by AI and received his corrected payslip within two days. Technology is levelling the playing field.

AI is not going to replace the plumber, but it will put a cap on his bill. Paco the tradesman had better start looking for another line of work.