>>Many economists say there is no need to worry. They point to how past major transformations in work tasks and labor markets – specifically the Industrial Revo

>>Many economists say there is no need to worry. They point to how past major transformations in work tasks and labor markets – specifically the Industrial Revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries – did not lead to major social upheaval or widespread suffering. Nonetheless, the "economist consensus" is that there "is need to worry" and the article linked to is a (well written!) exception to the current groupthink. This is in spite of the inconvenient fact that labor productivity is down. As for the "widespread suffering caused by automation" - I don't see ANY evidence that it was caused by unemployment caused by "too much automation". The industrial revolution induced more suffering primarily because of new weaponry that presaged industrial-scale slaughter. As before, the real job stealer isn't a robot, it's a man in a suit executing a trade deal with countries that still practise literal slavery, blaming your lack of a job paying > 5¢ an hour on a robot.