The Future Is Synthetic.

[Theland]

According to an article in a BBC radio 4 programme, the World Economic Forum in Davos, have forecast 85 million job losses worldwide over the next five years due to Artificial Intelligence replacing people in work.
Comments on this include a powerful ownership class dominating the masses, or alternatively, freeing up time for everybody sharing in the fruits of the new progress.
Given my opinion on human nature, I would hope for the latter, but fear it will be the former.
What do you think?
How can AI be harnessed to favour everybody, not just the global elite?

[Canary42]

The former, inevitably given their already-established power-base.

[naomi24]

I’m not really with you on ‘everybody sharing the fruits of the new progress’. Do you expect the people designing and making these things and running the businesses that utilise them to be in the same economic category as those who don’t work?

[Theland]

I expect, or rather hope, that the new progress will benefit all and not just be another cost saving for businesses resulting in redundancies, and a growing number of people thrown on the scrapheap of cheap labour or complete unemployment.

[dave50]

So what is the solution?

[naomi24]

That doesn't answer my question, Theland. If this is going to render people redundant how would you like this new found wealth to be distributed? Those who work have to benefit more, surely?

[AuntPollyGrey]

theland, until they find AI that will build a house or extension, repair a leaky pipe or boiler, or rewire a house, etc there will always be plenty of jobs.

[dave50]

Sharing as in give people money for doing nothing? Is that fair?

[AuntPollyGrey]

Theland -another thing overlooked in this Distopian future of yours - AI's have to be made -physical parts as well as soft-ware -people will change careers to suit the current environments which could mean perhaps fewer check out staff and more code monkeys.
BTW your second name isn't Ludd by any chance is it? :-)

[Zacs-Master]

Implement Azimov's 3 Laws (coming up to being 100 years old, by the way)..............

First Law:
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
Second Law:
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
Third Law:
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.[1]

[woofgang]

smart agricultural machinery is already in use and keeping food prices lower as well as making it possible to use less chemicals

[Zacs-Master]

The subject is HUGELY complicated. This (lengthy) learned article explores the complexity of AI growth / use:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030859612030080X

[Canary42]

/// your second name isn't Ludd by any chance is it? ///


LOL

[AuntPollyGrey]

// smart agricultural machinery is already in use //

It still has to be operated/programmed by a human though.

[Theland]

Its a problem gaining wider recognition.
Some suggested solutions include a universal benefit to a level that pays people enough to follow other pursuits besides work, such as education, and job sharing.
Quite simply, what do you do with millions unemployed, and no prospect of finding them jobs?
Look at supermarkets.
Amazon have opened a store that is virtually staff free.
How many people nationwide are employed simply on checkouts?

APG - The leaky pipe example will fade into history.
New products are already removing the need for special skills for, amongst other things, domestic plumbing.
In industry, many businesses have for years, contracted out to smaller firms, rather than employ their own services, such as machine repairs, accountancy, training to name just a few.

[AuntPollyGrey]

// New products are already removing the need for special skills for, amongst other things, domestic plumbing.//

I'm not talking about special skills -I'm talking about MAN power. These 'products' still need a human input -unless you think we are ready for metal mickey knocking on the door to fix the dishwasher!

// In industry, many businesses have for years, contracted out to smaller firms, rather than employ their own services, such as machine repairs, accountancy, training to name just a few.//

What on Earth has that got to do with AI taking over the World?

[woofgang]

APG// smart agricultural machinery is already in use //

APG"It still has to be operated/programmed by a human though."

yes it does but one human can operate several machines at once. I think its a thing. Not a good thing or a bad thing. It depends how it gets used.

[Old_Geezer]

If folk do not have yo opportunity to work and welfare, paid for by those making fortunes, is insufficient, then expect the masses to rise up. Might be incentive enough be act with the interests of the whole of society.

[Theland]

As AI continues to enable business to reduce human costs, quite simply, what happens to the humans?
The global elite don't consider national borders, so we in the west will have masses of people competing with the sweatshops of the far east.
As Old Geezer says, better to make it work for everybody else the riots will ensue.

[Theland]

Of course, plenty of AI to combat riots too!

[Zacs-Master]

Have you had a look at my link?