Machines are taking our jobs

[Bonzo77]

What does that even mean? I think it just becomes more available, usable and visible to the general public.

 

---------- Post added 02-02-2017 at 08:50 ----------

 

 

That's not the only option though, is it.

 

Couple of good points.

 

Firstly, I personally ally think technology is advancing more rapidly these days. 30 years ago computer games were 2 lines bouncing a dot between each other. Today we have games that look almost real with virtual reality heases. I think that is a remarkable turn of pace.

Also, look at the rapid growth of smartphones and the Internet.

 

Secondly, I do realise that the gym isn't the only option for keeping fit. I choose to keep fit at home, but I still have to pay for the equipment. However, my point is, we no longer lead active lifestyles and we have to take exercise as a separate option and make additional time for it.

 

---------- Post added 02-02-2017 at 09:49 ----------

 

Sure. How is that relevant?

 

 

Okay let's take an example from the near future.

Self-driving cars are nearly ready. This means no more work for people who drive for a living. The self-driving cars will be safer, ultimately cheaper, faster, more convenient, more reliable, better for the environment oh and did I mention safer.

A great many lives will be saved by preventing accidents, reducing damage to health and on many other fronts.

Productivity will increase as AI drivers operate 24/7 without breaks and labour is freed from driving tasks and given over to tasks which we can now afford to do, further increasing our rate of progress and growth.

 

People who currently drive for a living will have to retrain. This will be disruptive for them. Many will find the transition difficult and suffer a (possibly long-term) drop in their living standards.

 

Look at the balance. Lives saved, health improved, major increases in living standards for the many; against a difficult transition for the few.

We should do more to support the few through the transition, but would you really seek to prevent this change from occurring? Come on really?

 

Good point, although I wouldn't agree with the self driving cars myself. I think personal transport will always have an aspet of the traditional automobile. I'd feel much safer driving myself and I think the general public would feel much safer if their AI driven vehicle was manned by a human, much like an airliner on auto pilot is.....just incase something goes wrong.

 

I think that technology is advancing faster than we can retrain the people it's leaving behind though. We've got an army of unemployable people. You only have to sit some people in front of a computer and they look lost!

[Bargepole23]

Couple of good points.

 

Firstly, I personally ally think technology is advancing more rapidly these days. 30 years ago computer games were 2 lines bouncing a dot between each other. Today we have games that look almost real with virtual reality heases. I think that is a remarkable turn of pace.

Also, look at the rapid growth of smartphones and the Internet.

 

Secondly, I do realise that the gym isn't the only option for keeping fit. I choose to keep fit at home, but I still have to pay for the equipment. However, my point is, we no longer lead active lifestyles and we have to take exercise as a separate option and make additional time for it.

 

---------- Post added 02-02-2017 at 09:49 ----------

 

 

Good point, although I wouldn't agree with the self driving cars myself. I think personal transport will always have an aspet of the traditional automobile. I'd feel much safer driving myself and I think the general public would feel much safer if their AI driven vehicle was manned by a human, much like an airliner on auto pilot is.....just incase something goes wrong.

 

I think that technology is advancing faster than we can retrain the people it's leaving behind though. We've got an army of unemployable people. You only have to sit some people in front of a computer and they look lost!

 

Fair comment. 50% of my working life I'm at a desk, very sedentary, the rest I can be in factories working on machinery, which is very active. I prefer the active part. When I'm in the office, I cycle there, and go out for a walk at lunch.

 

Your other point re 30 years ago computer games were very basic....in the 30 years prior to that how fast was the advance in computing? Similar I would say, it's just not in the public eye.

[Chris_B_1983]

Somebody has to make the machines though....!

 

I'm from the factory. I make the machines.

[Cyclone]

As technology outgrows us at an alarming rate, we're seeing more and more manual jobs being taken over by machines. From automobile production lines, to banks, to the supermarket checkouts, to name just a few.

 

What will happen once we run out of alternative forms of employment for people? How will the economy be propped up if people are out of work and can't put any money back into the system?

 

One theory is that a universal income would mean people had money to spend but what does the forum think might happen?

 

I say we rise up against the plow, the threshing machine and the loom.

If it weren't for the damned machines we could all be gainfully employed in back breaking, hard grind labour. Damn them for taking that from me and instead allowing me to sit in an air conditioned office all day. Rise up, comrades.

[unbeliever]

I say we rise up against the plow, the threshing machine and the loom.

If it weren't for the damned machines we could all be gainfully employed in back breaking, hard grind labour. Damn them for taking that from me and instead allowing me to sit in an air conditioned office all day. Rise up, comrades.

 

It's apparently different this time. For reasons which have yet to made clear. All the previous technological advancements which improved our lives dramatically by creative destruction may have been good but this one is terrible. Somehow?