Posted on February 20, 2025
SAVANNAH, Ga. — Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented rate. A recent study from investment firm Goldman Sachs estimates that AI could replace 300 million full-time jobs within just five years. This shift is already being felt in Savannah, where some workers are fighting to protect their livelihoods from automation.
Port Workers Push Back Against AI
Last year, Savannah’s port workers took a stand against AI-driven automation, striking for two days to protest the integration of artificial intelligence into their industry. Their message was clear: they will continue to fight against automation replacing human jobs.
AI is not a distant concept — it’s already here.
The Goldman Sachs report warns that one in four jobs could be completely replaced by AI within the next five years.
Dr. Rami Haddad, an engineering professor at Georgia Southern University, identifies key industries at risk in Savannah, stating, “A lot of manufacturing industries are looking into AI integration. Logistics and warehouse industries are also exploring automation.”
The Impact on the Shipping Industry
One of the industries most affected by AI is shipping. Ports across the country are transitioning from human labor to automation, replacing workers with AI-driven machinery.
“Automation is the process of being able to take a task and have it be managed completely without any human intervention,” Haddad said.
From automated cranes to self-driving trucks and AI-operated ships, automation is streamlining operations. However, this efficiency comes at a cost. In ports like Los Angeles, automation has drastically reduced the workforce.
“Where you may have had a hundred people doing the job, it has shrunk down to five. That’s 95 people without jobs, unable to provide for their families,” a port worker shared.
Union President Fights for Workers
Savannah’s International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1414 President Paul Mosley is determined to prevent this outcome.
“We’re not going to give up and allow a robot, artificial intelligence, or any of that to do work in these ports,” Mosley said.
Last year, thousands of Savannah port workers hit the picket line in a two-day strike against AI in port operations. The protest secured contract language that prevents automation from replacing jobs for at least six years.
The Ripple Effect of AI Job Losses
If automation were to take hold at the Port of Savannah, Mosley estimates that around 2,500 jobs could be lost. The effects would extend beyond the docks, impacting the entire community.
“If people don’t have jobs, crime rates get higher. People lose medical coverage. Poverty increases. It’s all connected,” Mosley said.
While some experts, including Haddad, believe AI integration could create opportunities for retraining and reskilling, Mosley argues that for many workers, it’s not a feasible solution.
“You have people who have been trained to do a job for 20 or 30 years. Some are close to retirement and not ready to stop working. Are they supposed to go back to college after being out of school for 30 years?” he said.
A Temporary Ease
For now, Savannah port workers have six years of job security thanks to the contract deal made in January after the strike. However, with AI rapidly advancing, the fight to preserve human jobs in the shipping industry — and beyond — is far from over.
Haddad highlights manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing as additional industries vulnerable to AI automation. As technology continues to evolve, Savannah’s workforce will need to navigate these changes carefully to protect jobs and livelihoods.
