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We've seen this before with the transition from a labour force that was 50%+ involved in farming to one that became a manufacturing based society and then again

We've seen this before with the transition from a labour force that was 50%+ involved in farming to one that became a manufacturing based society and then again in the move from manufacturing to services. One of the bigger differences with AI is that it now may take away many of the lower tier "white collar" jobs along with blue collar jobs that were previously displaced by technology shits. I'm not terribly familiar with my economics history but is it possible that a huge tide of AI backed apps could be the first time that a significant portion of white collar jobs are lost along with the typical blue collar jobs that are more traditionally lost with tech shifts? Then again, in 2000, alot of first world programmers were worried about offshoring of programming jobs, I haven't seen any real impact of the loss of these jobs on programmers in North America so perhaps IBM is correct that AI will produce as many new jobs as it replaces.

jedbrown 10y ago
In each previous upheaval, new industries created large numbers of low-skilled jobs. In contrast, most of the new jobs created by AI will require significant education and creativity.
arebop 10y ago
The issue is not that yet another group of cowards is whining. The issue is that once machines can do everything better than humans, we will need a new way to organize society. Machines have already replaced animals including humans for the application of pure physical force to solving problems. Now machines are now replacing animals including humans for the application of intellect to solving problems. It is not clear that there is any next frontier. Would it be "love" or "spiritual practice" or what? Some people say that AI will not progress as far as industrial-age machines did in obsoleting humans. They sometimes give specific examples, claiming that they find AI-generated art to be dull or that AI-guided robotic surgeons only succeed in narrow tasks, etc. It's OK to argue that this will take a long time but I haven't heard anyone explain why the AIs won't win in the long run. Maybe the run is so long we shouldn't worry about it? Some other people say "we found new jobs before, we'll do it again." For example, the IBM chief. And that seems like empty wishful thinking.

jedbrown 10y ago

In each previous upheaval, new industries created large numbers of low-skilled jobs. In contrast, most of the new jobs created by AI will require significant education and creativity.

arebop 10y ago

The issue is not that yet another group of cowards is whining. The issue is that once machines can do everything better than humans, we will need a new way to organize society. Machines have already replaced animals including humans for the application of pure physical force to solving problems. Now machines are now replacing animals including humans for the application of intellect to solving problems. It is not clear that there is any next frontier. Would it be "love" or "spiritual practice" or what? Some people say that AI will not progress as far as industrial-age machines did in obsoleting humans. They sometimes give specific examples, claiming that they find AI-generated art to be dull or that AI-guided robotic surgeons only succeed in narrow tasks, etc. It's OK to argue that this will take a long time but I haven't heard anyone explain why the AIs won't win in the long run. Maybe the run is so long we shouldn't worry about it? Some other people say "we found new jobs before, we'll do it again." For example, the IBM chief. And that seems like empty wishful thinking.