They cared at the time.People don’t care about switchboard operators because the profession largely ended over 50 years ago but there are a whole slew of other jobs that aren’t dying as rapidly but are still in their death throes and people care very, very much about those - enough to vote for political parties willing to entertain them.
My point is just that technology changes labor. This isn't new. People that don't think we should develop AI because low level customer service reps will get phased out are throwing the baby out with the bathwater is all.