  Generative AI is expected to have transformative effects in multiple
knowledge industries. To better understand how knowledge workers expect
generative AI may affect their industries in the future, we conducted
participatory research workshops for seven different industries, with a total
of 54 participants across three US cities. We describe participants'
expectations of generative AI's impact, including a dominant narrative that cut
across the groups' discourse: participants largely envision generative AI as a
tool to perform menial work, under human review. Participants do not generally
anticipate the disruptive changes to knowledge industries currently projected
in common media and academic narratives. Participants do however envision
generative AI may amplify four social forces currently shaping their
industries: deskilling, dehumanization, disconnection, and disinformation. We
describe these forces, and then we provide additional detail regarding
attitudes in specific knowledge industries. We conclude with a discussion of
implications and research challenges for the HCI community.
