it seems that the shift is different in kind from previous ones (but then again, perhaps people thought that about previous labor disruptions as well) take ATM

it seems that the shift is different in kind from previous ones (but then again, perhaps people thought that about previous labor disruptions as well) take ATMs. they automated the task but the rung above it remained human. someone to handle exceptions, sell the mortgage, etc. running a branch actually became cheaper. cheaper branches meant more branches, so teller headcount went up for two decades. what seems different now isn't that the models are better at tasks. it's that the rung above is being climbed at the same time. the coordination layer is getting absorbed concurrently rather than a generation later. that doesn't mean no new work appears but every historical instance seems to have some kind of "escape route" which i'm not sure exists this time around.