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>...The analogy is humans now are to AI as 19th century horses were to the internal combustion engine. While this time things might be different, the analogy p
by opo 8y ago
>...The analogy is humans now are to AI as 19th century horses were to the internal combustion engine.
While this time things might be different, the analogy people always make in on-line discussions about the jobs for horses is silly. Horses do not have agency. In economic terms, horses were capital, not labor.
- dzdt 8y agoThat seems like a distinction without a difference. How exactly does a human's agency help their ability to negotiate for a job against a better cheaper robotic worker?
- opo 8y ago>...How exactly does a human's agency help their ability to negotiate for a job against a better cheaper robotic worker? Their old job might be gone, but a worker can develop skills that make them more employable - that might be learning about new software, taking classes, getting certified in a new area, etc. A worker can move to a different location where jobs are more prevalent, etc. Automation won’t force all jobs in all industries in all areas of the country to displace workers over night. As technology changes, economists would say that new job categories tend to be created. While it might be true that this time “things are different” and the job growth will be much slower than in previous times of technological change, that is a very different argument to make than simply using the horse analogy. Are you arguing that a worker is as helpless as a horse when they lose their job?