Hey everyone, welcome back to The Tamnation Gilsey Podcast. I’m James Mitchell, and today we’re diving into something that’s been on my mind a lot lately—how skilled trades like roofing and welding are holding their ground in this age of AI. You know, everywhere you look, there’s talk about automation taking over jobs, but when you really dig into it, there’s this whole world of work that AI just can’t seem to crack. I mean, you see it all over X—folks talking about how trades are, well, kind of immune to the automation wave. And it’s not just talk; there’s data backing it up. Roofing, welding—these jobs are sticking around, and it’s not just because of tradition or nostalgia.What’s really interesting is the hands-on, creative aspect of these trades. AI, for all its power, just can’t replicate the feel of a torch in your hand or the way you have to judge the angle of a roof shingle by eye. I remember chatting with this veteran welder a while back—guy had been at it for, I don’t know, forty years? He told me, “James, you can teach a robot to follow a seam, but you can’t teach it to feel when the metal’s just right.” There’s this irreplaceable ‘feel’ to the job, this intuition that comes from years of experience. And that’s something no algorithm can download, at least not yet.So, when we talk about trades being automation-resistant, it’s not just about the physical work—it’s about creativity, about making judgment calls on the fly. And honestly, that’s something I think we don’t celebrate enough. Where was I going with this? Oh right—let’s talk about the physical side of things, because that’s another huge barrier for AI.Now, if you’ve ever watched a roofer scramble up a steep pitch in the middle of July, or seen a welder working in a cramped, awkward spot, you know these jobs aren’t just about skill—they’re about physical grit. AI and robotics, for all their advances, still struggle with the kind of dexterity and strength these trades demand. I mean, sure, you can build a robot that welds a perfect bead in a factory, but put that same robot on a windy rooftop, and, well, good luck.There’s also the safety aspect. Trades like roofing and welding are full of unpredictable hazards—slippery surfaces, sudden weather changes, tight spaces. Humans have this built-in ability to adapt, to sense danger, to make those split-second decisions that keep them safe. Robots? Not so much. I was reading about some roofing companies that are starting to use drones and other tech to help with inspections and planning, but when it comes to actually laying shingles or sealing up a tricky corner, it’s still the skilled workers doing the heavy lifting. The tech is there to help, not replace.And that’s the thing—technology is being woven into these trades, but it’s not pushing people out. It’s more like, it’s giving them better tools, making the job safer or more efficient, but the core work, the stuff that really matters, is still in human hands. Which brings me to something I think is even more important: the problem-solving side of these jobs.So, let’s talk about real-time decision-making. In skilled trades, you’re constantly troubleshooting, improvising, coming up with solutions on the fly. AI is great at following instructions, but when things go sideways—like, say, a sudden storm rolls in while you’re halfway through a roofing job—it’s the humans who figure out what to do next.I remember this one story from a roofer I met in the Midwest. He was up on a roof, middle of a job, and out of nowhere, this storm just barrels in. The plan goes out the window. He had to improvise, using whatever materials he had on hand to keep the house dry until the weather cleared. That kind of quick thinking, that adaptability—it’s just not something AI can handle, at least not in the messy, unpredictable real world.And that’s really the heart of it. Trades aren’t just about following steps—they’re about reading the situation, making judgment calls, and sometimes just plain gut instinct. AI might get there someday, but for now, these jobs are safe because they’re so deeply human. Anyway, that’s all for today’s episode. Thanks for listening, and we’ll keep floating on the detritus of modern culture together next time. Take care.

Episodes

Trades vs AI