What happens when all jobs are automated?

Polarbeary

I've been doing some research about the future of jobs. More and more jobs are being automated. Do you remember when there used to be pools of typists in all big offices? Look at how many supermarkets have self checkouts, accountancy IT packages can replaced accountants etc

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/05/21/408234543/will-your-job-be-done-by-a-machine
This is pretty interesting, you select your job and it tells you what chance your job has of being automated...mine is 0.4%!

It's funny how nobody ever seems to mention it but there is a wealth of stuff online. Even traditional "middle class" professionals are likely to find themselves replaced. Pink collar work - perhaps less so.

Maybe we will all have loads of leisure time in the future and a citizens income. Or perhaps the elite will continue to live their life and everybody else will be living in a slum.

alibean121

That website is ridiculous!! What does the requirement to squeeze into a small space have to do with anything...

Polarbeary

alibean121 wrote: »

That website is ridiculous!! What does the requirement to squeeze into a small space have to do with anything...

I don't think a robot can

It's obviously just a rough idea...basically - a lot of office worker jobs will be obsolete in the not too distant future. Healthcare professions and creative professions are at far less risk.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/15/robot-doctors-online-lawyers-automated-architects-future-professions-jobs-technology

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/22/robot-jobs-humans-used-to-do-fight-back

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/19/work-life-balance-ever-harder

[Deleted User]

Funny enough - i've spent a lot of time recently making 'automation' code recently, that replaces a lot of manual work we do (Consultancy) - taking work that would previously have been a 2 day job, and made it a 2 hour job.

SailorSam

I'm not working now but i was a taxi driver which according to that site has a 89.4% chance of being automated.
How could you automate something as random as driving around picking up random passengers wanting to go to random destinations ?

alibean121

My sister has a robot hoover and it can hardly navigate her flat without getting wedged under the chest of drawers so I'm not sure anyone should be quaking just yet...

DavidF

SailorSam wrote: »

I'm not working now but i was a taxi driver which according to that site has a 89.4% chance of being automated.
How could you automate something as random as driving around picking up random passengers wanting to go to random destinations ?

Driverless cars - extra feature - customer jumps in with credit card and inputs destination - including "recommended" restaurants/bars/clubs attractions....not as far away as you would think.

SailorSam

DavidF wrote: »

Driverless cars - extra feature - customer jumps in with credit card and inputs destination - including "recommended" restaurants/bars/clubs attractions....not as far away as you would think.

Oh yea, i can just hear the punter now,..
"Are you having a good day driver, eer sorry i mean car ?

Gavin83

SailorSam wrote: »

I'm not working now but i was a taxi driver which according to that site has a 89.4% chance of being automated.
How could you automate something as random as driving around picking up random passengers wanting to go to random destinations ?

Actually I think this one may not be far off. Driverless cars are already well under production and I think we'll see the first examples on our road by the end of the decade. The step of making it a 'cab' is probably the easiest part. The biggest hurdles now is the legal aspect and the acceptance.

You might not like it as you were a taxi driver but if I was young I'd be avoiding this profession like the plague. I give it 15 years tops. Once cab companies realise they'll make more money by having a robot driver instead of a human driver they'll jump all over it. I think they'll always be a service for human drivers and those that desire it but let's make no mistake here, it'll be considered a premium service with a price to match and the majority will opt for a driverless car.

If given the choice I would choose a driverless car as it's less likely to make mistakes but I assume the majority will just go for the cheapest option.

Polarbeary wrote: »

Maybe we will all have loads of leisure time in the future and a citizens income. Or perhaps the elite will continue to live their life and everybody else will be living in a slum.

It's an interesting question. Given the opportunity I assume most business owners would choose robots over human employees. They're cheaper, more efficient, don't require rest and don't argue back. It's win win for the business owner.

However if every business was to do this hardly anyone would be paying tax and therefore I don't think a healthy citizens income on the state would be possible. We may well end up in a situation where the minority live in a walled city living the most luxurious life possible, while the majority live outside in unimaginable poverty.

We've already seen some jobs disappear to machines, such as checkout staff, via self service and train drivers, to the DLR. Actually I think train drivers may be the first transport job to completely disappear as it's the easiest to automate and they have a reputation of being awkward, at least from the train companies point of view.

After that I think we'll see more transport jobs automated, accountancy, customer services and even jobs like mechanics. We're at a very interesting and frankly quite scary crossroads.

Luckily according to the website my job has a very small chance of being automated.

[Deleted User]

It'll just be like uber. You'll use your phone to 'summon' a robot car, it will let you in (probably some sort of swipe from your phone) and take you where you want to; without making any racist jokes or bragging about the buy to lets it owns in a run-down town.

The entire idea of owning your own car might even go away if the cost of a 'taxi' ride dives

mattcanary

All this is very scary.


The human race is doing it's very best to make itself obsolete and in the longer-term extinct.