By: Kaylyn Franklin
In a time where every daily activity relies on some sort of technology, we have to wonder what the future holds for humanity. From cell phones that are essentially pocket-sized personal computers to the self-checkout isle at your local Wal-Mart, advantages in technology have made life all the more easy for humans. Groundbreaking advances in digital processing power and automation have almost made the use of manual labor obsolete.
All you have to do is look at the manufacturing floor at a GM facility to see one of the reasons Detroit has one of the highest rates of unemployment. The same jobs that once helped Detroit's economy flourish are now occupied by our robotic counterparts. We may not be riding in hover cars like the Jetsons, but in China the bullet train uses the power of magnetism to float above the track achieving speeds upwards of 200mph. AKA hover-train. I use this as an example to say that whether we wish to acknowledge it or not the tech that we use to dream of is already here. Honestly, it will be no time before children are dropped off at school in a driverless school bus. Now, how do these new advances affect the human existence? Of course activities will be a whole lot less laborious, but is the education system preparing the youth for employment opportunities that will no longer be there? If the overall perception of tech doesn't change, could automation lead to mass unemployment and civil unrest?
The vast majority of jobs in agriculture have already been phased out. We've gone form hundreds of planters and harvesters to basically a few people efficiently getting the job done in machines. Automation and robotics phases out not only the need for human labor but human error as well. Our tech-based counterparts get the job done better than any human at ten times the speed. So the question is no longer how human labor is no longer needed but when. Many argue that as long as there are technological advances there will be jobs to accommodate them. I believe the contrary, in that eventually humans will be obsolete in the workplace. Additionally, I believe that in the future a job will be a foreign concept.
To combat the forces of mass unemployment and unrest a basic income can be administered to the populace. This will ensure that once hard-working Americans can survive in an evolving economy. Some argue that a basic income won't give incentive to honest labor but when there is no need for work why bother. Pretty soon the wealth of an individual won't matter but the wealth of the nation you reside will determine living conditions. I believe an emphasis on scholastic achievement and space exploration will take the place of working to pay a mortgage. Of course my utopian view of the future is theoretical, but the point being that now is the time to prepare for imminent change.
Now, more than ever, the reality of robots ruling the world seems possible. Automation of many task that were capable of being performed by humans have been replaced by robots. Without much specialization in market offering I feel that the replacement of humans with robots will continue. A production process that requires humans to work with robots rather than complete robot production is more favorable. Advancement in technology will not stop anytime soon. The only way for humans to stay employed is through innovation.
ReplyDeleteAutomation definitely kills labor. When it comes to turning inputs into profitable outputs, what company would choose lesser quality labor over using a more efficient high-skilled labor force (machine)? Since the printing press, economic growth has been dependent on finding a more effective method of increasing output/input. Robots are no exception. They can go ahead and issue my two or three robots with my same social security number and let the bots work for me. I'll play golf and go fishing, sure, just as long as my account keeps getting bigger. Imaginative, but work with me. That idea is far more soothing than the image of the great cities of America burning.
ReplyDeleteI agree that automation to an extent will lead to mass unemployment in certain areas. Past billing procedures from a hospital used to be done manually, but now there are automated systems that are configured to do that automatically. The hospital benefits from lowering cost, becoming more efficient, but jobs may be lost as a result. Not only does automation lead to unemployment in certain areas, but outsourcing as well. Given emerging markets globally, the price for labor is much cheaper outside the United States is much cheaper. Its not only manual labor that is being outsourced, but technical jobs as well. Have you ever made a phone call and the customer service representative had a strong accent that may suggest they are working outside the United States if you asked? Automation, as a result of technology enhancements is beneficial for companies, but jobs may disappear. With global outsourcing also a factor, people need to develop specific skill sets valuable in today's work force.
ReplyDeleteAutomation will increase unemployment. It's something that can be seen even with self checkout and things like that. I don't think it will take away jobs for highly skilled things or for things that weigh heavily on a company but automation is definitely going to take away some of the more general labor type of jobs.
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