So it’s not just humans who are being replaced by technology.
The most interesting (saddest) part of the deal Trump made with Carrier is the company will use part of the taxpayer money to modernize the plant.
The company’s deal with President-elect Donald Trump to keep a furnace plant from moving to Mexico also calls for a $16 million investment in the facility.
But that has a big down side for some of the workers in Indianapolis.
Most of that money will be invested in automation said Greg Hayes, CEO of United Technologies, Carrier’s corporate parent. And that automation will replace some of the jobs that were just saved.
—-Carrier to ultimately cut some of jobs Trump saved
Automation and artificial intelligence are causing big upheavals in workers’ lives. Trump managed to capitalize on the problem, but what happens when/if he can’t keep his promises? As usual, keep your seat belts fastened.
Mark my words, other stories will unfold, much to the chagrin of the people who elected him. I have seen too many such novice politicians in India to be taken in by his words.
The purpose of Trump’s action was to make a splash, a good first impression. I agree with Scott Adams that it was a smart move even if it ends up helping only a few people. We will have to see how it all plays out.
Whether Trump won or lost, automation and artificial intelligence are going to adversely impact future employment and more. I have always embraced innovations and new tech, but, now, I’m concerned. I don’t obsessively worry about it, though, as there is nothing I can do about it.
So far as Trump being a novice politician, he’s not a politician. He’s an experienced business executive who has been hired by the people through the electoral college to the position of President.
I don’t expect to see Trump follow every traditional presidential practice. It has been and will continue to be interesting.
Even The Economist, which believes in improving trade and productivity, now realizes that something has to be done to help the people who are being displaced.
Trump was hired to shake things up. That he will do!
Automation has been replacing jobs since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Each generation has its complainers. The term I heard recently was “Lexus Luddites” to describe them, since they never seem to come from the middle or lower classes and have been the principle beneficiaries of the automation.
I don’t see people arguing against automation, increasing productivity. The question is how to keep the rich from reaping all the benefits and the workers from bearing all the suffering. Referring to them as “complainers” is demeaning. That attitude is one of the big reasons Trump was elected.
the thing about the switch from horses to cars, let’s say, is that new jobs opened up for humans as the old ones disappeared. what’s today’s equivalent, i wonder. i haven’t been hearing about new opportunities for humans, but lots of new opportunities for robots and other machines.
Yes, some people recognize the problem, but the solution won’t be easy. Some people are talking about a post-work society. When I mentioned that to Andy last night he said all we have to do is stop immigration. If there aren’t enough people to do the low-pay, yucky farming and service jobs the wages and prices will have to go up.
He also had an interesting take on safety regulations that are driving up the cost of cars, etc. Everyone should have to pay for the features according to their wealth. Now the wealthy are all for the new features, but if they had to pay a lot more they would change their minds. Not much chance of him ever being heard, of course, because he’s never registered to vote.
love the cartoon!!!
Yes, it was brilliant!
It’s true that automation has replaced work done by humans since the industrial revolution.The difference now is that the use and sophistication of AI is escalating at a very fast rate. New jobs are not being created, as they were in the past. Its important also to recognize that corporations are very much in favor of automation, since using machines are incredibly more efficient, and costs are very much lower. So that leaves the workers in a bind. Talk of a guaranteed annual income is depressing, since humans have always viewed work as important to self fulfillment and self esteem. It’s true that Trump waltzed in the middle of this situation and capitalized on it—blaming immigrants for unemployment, when it was really automation to blame. So it remains to be seen what will become of our work based capitalistic society. Trump won’t improve the lot of the ordinary person, in spite of what people believed. Eventually they will realize this.
But he has awakened the Democrats, so the ordinary people who supported him may still benefit from the election.
wonder what the work ethic of all the machines and robots will be in the near future. it is so eroded now by the humans holding jobs that people just laugh when you mention customer service.
dealing with machinery will be better? even though it’s cost effective.
I personally always go to a human being for ‘checking out’ whether buying groceries or borrowing a library book.
our library got rid of six librarians and techs… replacing them with automation.
that’s a small example of what’s happening. and it’s hardly worth mentioning I suppose. but not to those six people!
The other day when I went to the library I had trouble finding one to help me. I don’t mind checking out my own books, it’s quicker than the old system and it probably means the library is open for more hours. I did mind it when they reduced the hours several years ago.
We usually have a person check us out at the grocery store. The self-checkout machines don’t always work smoothly so Andy hates them.