When Jobs Disappear

Elsewhere these days there has been talk of a UBI – a Universal Basic Income. As one might expect, it has been proposed by Lefties as the basic means to guarantee all people a subsistence level of income. There are numerous arguments about why this is not a great idea, but I don’t believe we need to look at that here. We all grasp the underlying reasons society would not be benefited by this.

But beyond this, there is a looming question, not necessarily of our or even our children’s lifetime, of what happens when there are no longer jobs. The scenario runs like this. AI improves continuously until it is able to run everything – and better than humans. It is always on the job, it is consistent, it doesn’t make mistakes. Furthermore, it knows how best to allocate resources for efficiency.

?What then. ?What happens to humans. The AI’s will be running everything – and better than the humans. ?Who will decide on the future of humans – the AI’s. Perhaps they will keep some around like pets. ?What can we expect out of humans in terms of improvements that could make the race viable.

I know this sounds like sci-fi, but I believe the question is interesting. Remember, economics and wealth creation are a human thing. One person makes something and another has something to trade, so an exchange is made. None of the rest of the animal kingdom does this. ?What happens when humans no longer produce anything.

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7 Responses to When Jobs Disappear

  1. 10 Cents10 Cents says:

    Why don’t these rich lefties take their money and do this with a 100 people as a pilot project? Do it for ten years and see the results.

  2. BrentB67BrentB67 says:

    I don’t know Dev, but this is a heck of an article.

    I also think my footwear lining friend has a good suggestion. That is 2 in one night. Probably time for him to go back in the dryer.

  3. NandaNanda says:

    Am reminded about Baroness Thatcher’s quote about socialists and “other people’s money”. Good one, Dev!

  4. MLHMLH says:

    I think the suggested UBI is more than I’m making now. But then what do I know about capit. . .

  5. TKC1101TKC1101 says:

    Being an old programmer from way way back, when men were men and women were women and machine time was the scarce commodity, I have been seeing AI as a concept keep regenerate as the great threat.

    Will mind numbing labor be less required in the first world? Yes.

    Will people find unique ways to use the awesome power of human calculation , pattern recognition and innovation to take AI as another tool in the toolbox and get work done? Yes.

    Will the workweek for many drop to thirty hours or less? Yes.

    Will driven crazed entrepreneurs still work fourteen hour days to do new things? Yes.

    Will there be jobs that no longer exist? Yes.

    Will we stabilize at a new normal ‘work week’ and build society around it? Maybe.

    • ctlaw says:

      “Will the workweek for many drop to thirty hours or less? Yes.”

      We’ve been told this for years. It only seems to happen in government jobs and a few other rent-seeking industries where legislative capture insulates jobholders against competition. One of the consequences is that the work week then goes up (and wages down) for others because they have to pay for the inefficiencies.

    • DevereauxDevereaux says:

      Your response covers what has always been. We have found new ways to work, new jobs for people to do, and sometimes old jobs that no one seems to know any more (like tool-and-die maker).

      Still, one can envision a time when ALL that will be done by machine. And if machines do it, then ?where is the wealth. Wealth as a concept is things done by men. It is the basis of trade – that you have or get or make something someone else wants and they have or get or make something you want. ?What will we do when machines do it all. ?Will we all drive Cadillacs or F-150’s. ?Will we drive at all, since machines can get us places much more safely and efficiently.