Initially people felt comfortable ignoring it if they were busy and someone from our overseas office “walked” up to their desk silently, waiting for attention… But in a matter of a day or two people started using the robot differently in the work place… Normal non-tech staff and visitors alike took the time to actually look closely at the screen and find out who was ‘on’. Introducing themselves if they didn’t know them, asking if they could help them find their way around. Just like a real presence… A new social norm was developing before our very eyes.
- Business Insider Australia: Freelancer Has A Robot In Its Office That Has Staff Working In Ways They Never Imagined
Key themes: reasons to be hopeful
Advances in technology may displace certain types of work, but historically they have been a net creator of jobs.
We will adapt to these changes by inventing entirely new types of work, and by taking advantage of uniquely human capabilities.
Technology will free us from day-to-day drudgery, and allow us to define our relationship with “work” in a more positive and socially beneficial way.
Ultimately, we as a society control our own destiny through the choices we make.
Key themes: reasons to be concerned
Impacts from automation have thus far impacted mostly blue-collar employment; the coming wave of innovation threatens to upend white-collar work as well.
Certain highly-skilled workers will succeed wildly in this new environment—but far more may be displaced into lower paying service industry jobs at best, or permanent unemployment at worst.
Our educational system is not adequately preparing us for work of the future, and our political and economic institutions are poorly equipped to handle these hard choices.
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