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The article has this near the end: Perhaps AI algorithms are just getting started, and in the coming years they will automate health care, education, retail an

The article has this near the end: Perhaps AI algorithms are just getting started, and in the coming years they will automate health care, education, retail and other industries the way machine tools once automated the assembly line. If that happens, either humans will have to find new things to do that can’t be easily automated -- for example, creative jobs -- or something like Yang’s basic income proposal will indeed become necessary. Isn't it obvious this is happening right now and increasing? The articles uses words like "Perhaps" and "If that happens" as if this is some science fiction. This isn't some possible far future, it's currently in progress right now. Self driving trucks are already being tested on the roads. And so much more is coming in other industries.

mlazos 7y ago
We are at the top of the hype curve for AI. It’s very good at specific tasks, ie speech to text, object recognition, but cannot reason at a high level. Although advances in RL are showing some promise with planning, I don’t think we’re nearly as close to fully self driving vehicles everywhere in all conditions as anyone thought. I think it’s hard to predict when advances will happen that will enable automation in healthcare and education. Most healthcare recommender systems I’ve seen turn into glorified search upon closer examination.
- chillacy 7y ago
  Even without high level reasoning, software can replace a lot of routine jobs, which I think speaks more to the fact that routine jobs are not fit for humans than the humanness of software. For example in the physical realm, working an assembly line is mind-numbing, and relatively unfulfilling. A robotic arm can take over. And now in the cognitive realm, sticking to a strict call center script or taking orders at a fast food restaurant is equally uninteresting, and if speech to text + a decision tree can do that, then that's good. As long as we don't leave people behind, removing in-human jobs is imo a net good.
- fyrabanks 7y ago
  > I think it’s hard to predict when advances will happen that will enable automation in healthcare and education. It is a very credible threat facing Radiology residents at the moment.
ilaksh 7y ago
Automation has already wiped out massive amounts of manufacturing jobs.

mlazos 7y ago

We are at the top of the hype curve for AI. It’s very good at specific tasks, ie speech to text, object recognition, but cannot reason at a high level. Although advances in RL are showing some promise with planning, I don’t think we’re nearly as close to fully self driving vehicles everywhere in all conditions as anyone thought. I think it’s hard to predict when advances will happen that will enable automation in healthcare and education. Most healthcare recommender systems I’ve seen turn into glorified search upon closer examination.

chillacy 7y ago
Even without high level reasoning, software can replace a lot of routine jobs, which I think speaks more to the fact that routine jobs are not fit for humans than the humanness of software. For example in the physical realm, working an assembly line is mind-numbing, and relatively unfulfilling. A robotic arm can take over. And now in the cognitive realm, sticking to a strict call center script or taking orders at a fast food restaurant is equally uninteresting, and if speech to text + a decision tree can do that, then that's good. As long as we don't leave people behind, removing in-human jobs is imo a net good.
fyrabanks 7y ago
> I think it’s hard to predict when advances will happen that will enable automation in healthcare and education. It is a very credible threat facing Radiology residents at the moment.

ilaksh 7y ago

Automation has already wiped out massive amounts of manufacturing jobs.