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Can you imagine a future where most of the menial and factory tasks that are now jobs are performed by robots? In this case it certainly does eliminate jobs, w
by realize 15y ago
Can you imagine a future where most of the menial and factory tasks that are now jobs are performed by robots? In this case it certainly does eliminate jobs, with no guarantee that others will be created.
The wealth created goes to the company that made the robot, and the one that utilizes the robot. The people who used to have jobs get left out of the wealth transfer.
I'm not saying this is necessarily bad, just that it will happen and maybe we need a new economic model to deal with this future.
- InclinedPlane 15y agoCompanies become more dependent on automation in order to increase efficiency. In the near-term this leads to higher profits. However, because automation reduces overhead, competition will result in lower prices. The end result is that increased profits are only temporary, ultimately the main result is merely cheaper goods. And cheaper goods mean increased amounts of discretionary income. That money ultimately goes elsewhere, creating new jobs that didn't exist before or causing growth for old jobs that used to be niche. Yes, I can imagine a future where most of the menial and factory jobs are performed by robots. Just as I can imagine a present where the majority of the population isn't farmers, or where "computers" are devices rather than people, or a present without elevator operators, switchboard operators, lamp lighters, or milkmen.
- natrius 15y agoI can imagine a future in which robots are cheaper and more capable than a broad swath of humanity at everything. Jobs will be lost.
- DannoHung 15y agoThis is assuming that there is no price collusion and that capital costs of market entry are generally negligible.
- ebiester 15y agoFine, but we're to the point, or almost there, where nearly every job that can be done by someone of IQ 85 or below will be automatable. Intelligent people will be in demand for a while. But what about below average intelligence people? People who are sub-literate and can't jump from job to job, learning skills quickly? Diligent, hard working people who just can't outwork a robot?
- vlisivka 15y agoWhat we do with homeless dogs? History says - convert them to eunuchs.
- Xlythe 15y agoJob creation for the sake of jobs is wasteful. And these are crummy jobs being replaced by robots; just look at the suicide rates. Regardless, robots still need to be maintained, they increase energy consumption, and they lower costs. Workers will be needed. Just elsewhere. The wealth goes to the people creating the robots and the people maintaining the robots. Automation is a great thing. I'm still waiting for an economic model to be put into place where (decent) food, shelter, and health insurance are provided free of cost because of automation. The necessity of having a job is so ingrained into our culture, I want to see what it'd be like when it's entirely optional.
- zizee 15y agoI'm still waiting for an economic model to be put into place where (decent) food, shelter, and health insurance are provided free of cost because of automation. I think socialism might be the economic model you are looking for: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism Job creation for the sake of jobs is wasteful. I used to think this (and still do) but it is important to make sure people have something that fills in their time otherwise you'll end up with all sorts of societal problems like drug abuse, vandalism etc. Some people get a bit weird if they have too much time on their hands.