Main Blog Page

How Robots Will Change The Workforce

How Robots Will Change The Workforce

Thirty of the world’s top scientists are scheduled to meet at the University of California at San Diego in February to discuss the toughest challenges in robotics and automation, including how to make driverless cars safe for a mass audience.

The experts are being brought together by Henrik Christensen, the prominent Georgia Tech engineer who was hired in July to run UC San Diego’s young Contextual Robotics Institute.

Christensen said at the time, "I want to build a research institute that, ideally, will be in the top five in the world five years from now. Why not see if we can […]

Automation: The Real Job Killer of American Manufacturing

Automation: The Real Job Killer of American Manufacturing

I am an optimistic believer in the possibility of an America which can move forward unified, despite the differences we have in race, class, education, the list goes on ad infinitum. But first, I need to try to understand the people who I did not agree with on Election Day. This section of the population, I may have little in common with on a core issue that does not directly affect me. A healthy future depends on how well we try to understand one another regardless of our differences.

In this two part series, I set out to explore job […]

Chart: Amazon robots on the rise, gaining slowly but steadily on human workforce

Chart: Amazon robots on the rise, gaining slowly but steadily on human workforce

Amazon’s workforce has exploded in recent years, more than doubling since the end of 2014, when it employed 154,000 people. As of the latest count , there were 306,000 employees working worldwide for the Seattle tech giant.

But another group is growing at an even faster rate than the company’s human workforce: the number of robots working alongside people in Amazon fulfillment centers. The company said this week that it has 45,000 “robotic units” operating in 20 distribution centers working with people to fill and ship customer orders.

The number is up 50 percent from the 30,000 bots that Amazon reported […]

Taking a guaranteed income

If you like the thought of using your retirement savings to give you a guaranteed income for life, you’ll still have some important decisions to make.

For instance, you can combine any pension pots you have saved elsewhere, take some tax-free cash and buy the annuity that’s right for you. Take some tax-free cash

You should be able to take up to 25% of your retirement savings as a lump sum, completely free from tax.Of course, if you choose to take some tax-free cash, it will reduce the amount of savings you have to buy your ongoing retirement income. What […]

What do you guys think of Universal Basic Income?

[Serious] ELI5: Can someone please explain what the UN resolution was, why Israel responded by cutting off relations with those that voted yes, how Israel views US by abstaining, and what is this evidence Netanyahu says he has that he will only share with Trump?

How large a force is the alt-right? Is media coverage blowing them out of proportion?

If a Senator wins the gubernatorial election for that same state that he represents in the Senate, can he appoint his own replacement? without getting into the question of who is right, why does obama and […]

The Social Contract Spotlights Automation and Immigration

The Social Contract Spotlights Automation and Immigration

A few months ago, I worked with The Social Contract quarterly to produce an issue with a section discussing the topic of how automation affects America’s need for immigration. The result was the Fall 2016 issue, subtitled “When Robots Replace Humans.”

After writing dozens of blogs for LimitsToGrowth.org about rapidly advancing automation , robots and computer software , my aim was to produce a series of basic articles that would introduce the subject as a whole to readers who might not have realized the effect of technology on today’s workplace. Many people understand that automation is a growing element […]

Could Universal Basic Income Work in the U.S.?

Could Universal Basic Income Work in the U.S.?

While it is virtually impossible to argue with the fact that the advancement of technology has increased comfort, efficiency and lower production costs in the business world, it must be acknowledged that this new automated form of production has come at an immensely hefty price. As more and more businesses are automating much of the process, it has led to the need to cut human labor, leaving many individuals out of work. This means that we can reasonably expect that as technology continues to grow and improve that the economic impact on individuals will also intensify.

One would be hard-pressed […]

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

This idea has been floated before and I am at the moment unsure of whether its a good idea. I do think it is one certainly worth studying and experimenting on like some countries are doing. Basically everyone gets a guaranteed income. In exchange we save money on welfare checks (since everyone gets a government handout irrespective of other sources of income, we don’t need money to catch welfare cheats).

I can see some advantages, for example if people are guaranteed an income they may spend their time doing other things like self improvement. However it will also cause inflation […]

Will your job be automated? Nearly half in Idaho will be in the next 20 years

Will your job be automated? Nearly half in Idaho will be in the next 20 years

The robots haven’t taken over — yet.

Technology already is changing work force and how jobs are done throughout industries. The state may be a long way out from life as portrayed on “The Jetsons,” but one study projects that many jobs are at high risk of becoming mostly automated in the next 10 to 20 years.

Automation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however. Clear Springs Foods in Buhl has found that machines can help employees.“It’s really made people’s jobs easier,” spokeswoman Callie Grindstaff said. “We’re really trying to inform people that manufacturing is way different than it used to be.”Machines […]

Finland Introduces Basic Income for Unemployed

Wednesday, 28 December 2016 Finland is to introduce a basic income for some citizens from next month, becoming the first country to adopt the policy.

Two thousand unemployed people will be given €560 ($600) every month for two years, without any restrictions or conditions attached. Leaders hope the move will improve life quality, reduce unemployment and create jobs.

Recipients will not need to prove they are looking for work and the money will be given regardless of any other income the person earns. The Finnish government is planning to study whether the policy helps recipients find […]