Social scientists have been paying attention to a recent spike in suicide among white, middle-aged Americans [1], and economic distress is often often put forwa

Social scientists have been paying attention to a recent spike in suicide among white, middle-aged Americans [1], and economic distress is often often put forward as a cause. This is exactly the group that the automation of these kinds of blue-collar jobs could hurt the most. The introduction of this kind of technology could have very real consequences in terms of public health, human suffering, etc., albeit in a more indirect way. I wish that the process of getting regulatory approval for this kind of tech could be explicitly tied to addressing some of these second-order consequences: no self driving cars until 1) the technology is assured to be safe on the roads and 2) there is a plan to help the huge number of human beings who are in danger of being made obsolete by it to adapt somehow. [1]: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/health/death-rates-rising-for-middle-aged-white-americans-study-finds.html http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/health/death-rates-rising-...