Tag: Technology

Slow-Motion Automation

Slow-Motion Automation

Illustration by Richard Mia Automation — in the form of machine learning, robotics, autonomous vehicles, white-collar bots, exoskeletons, and so on — is changing the nature of work in a wide range of industries. In conducting research for my new book, Silicon Collar: An Optimistic Perspective on Humans, Machines, and Jobs (Deal Architect, 2016), I examined people at work in more than 50 settings: accounting firms and banks, the battlefront and digital agencies, the oil patch and restaurants, R&D labs and shop floors, warehouses and wineries. And it is clear that the old divisions among professions and trades have […]

Elon Musk: We Need Universal Income Because Robots Will Steal All The Jobs

Elon Musk: We Need Universal Income Because Robots Will Steal All The Jobs

Image: Getty Spacentrepreneur Elon Musk thinks we’ll eventually need a basic universal income because of "automation."

"People will have time to do other things, more complex things, more interesting things," he told CNBC . "Certainly more leisure time. And then we gotta figure how we integrate with a world and future with a vast AI."

"Ultimately, I think there has to be some improved symbiosis with digital super intelligence," the Tesla CEO said.What will happen if robots steal our jobs? It’s a question that’s been on the minds of both the proletariat and the bourgeoisie since the advent of artificial intelligence. […]

Robots, not trade, behind many factory-job losses

Robots, not trade, behind many factory-job losses

A worker loads spools of thread at the Repreve Bottle Processing Center, part of the Unifi textile company in Yadkinville, North Carolina. WASHINGTON — Donald Trump blames Mexico and China for stealing millions of jobs from the United States.

He might want to bash the robots instead.

Despite the Republican presidential nominee’s charge "we don’t make anything anymore," manufacturing still is flourishing in America.Problem is, factories don’t need as many people as they used to because machines now do so much of the work.America has lost more than 7 million factory jobs since manufacturing employment peaked in 1979. Susan Stacy moves […]

The Skills Delusion

The Skills Delusion

Adair Turner Everybody agrees that better education and improved skills, for as many people as possible, is crucial to increasing productivity and living standards and to tackling rising inequality. But what if everybody is wrong?

Most economists are certain that human capital is as important to productivity growth as physical capital. And to some degree, that’s obviously true. Modern economies would not be possible without widespread literacy and numeracy: many emerging economies are held back by inadequate skills.

But one striking feature of the modern economy is how few skilled people are needed to drive crucial areas of economic activity. Facebook […]

Blame put on robots for job losses

Blame put on robots for job losses

A worker loads spools of thread at the automated Repreve yarn-making plant in Yadkinville, N.C., which is part of the Unifi textile company. Drone carts at the plant now do jobs that people once did. WASHINGTON — Donald Trump blames Mexico and China for stealing millions of jobs from the United States.

He might want to bash the robots instead.

Despite the Republican presidential nominee’s claim that "we don’t make anything anymore," manufacturing is still flourishing in America. Problem is, factories don’t need as many people as they used to because machines now do so much of the work.America has lost […]

“Resisting automation seems both futile and undesirable”

“Resisting automation seems both futile and undesirable”

John Danaher JAXenter: In the abstract of your session , you mention some recently-published books which forecast widespread technological unemployment over the next 50 years. What’s your take on that? Do you agree with the authors?

John Danaher: I am wary of making bold predictions but I think these authors are on the right track. There are going to be profound changes in both the volume and quantity of paid employment over the next 50 years. Indeed, some of these changes are already taking place.

JAXenter: If the threat to paid employment is real, what should our plan […]

Elon Musk: We Need Universal Income Because Robots Will Steal All the Jobs

Elon Musk: We Need Universal Income Because Robots Will Steal All the Jobs

Images: Getty Spacentrepreneur Elon Musk thinks we’ll eventually need a basic universal income because of “automation.”

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“People will have time to do other things, more complex things, more interesting things,” he told CNBC . “Certainly more leisure time. And then we gotta figure how we integrate with a world and future with a vast AI.”“Ultimately, I think there has to be some improved symbiosis with digital super intelligence,” the Tesla CEO said. 0:00 / 0:00 What will happen if robots steal our jobs? It’s a question that’s been on the minds of both the proletariat and the bourgeoisie since the […]

U.S. Manufacturing: Politicians Get it All Wrong

U.S. Manufacturing: Politicians Get it All Wrong

Output is Strong, But Workers Lack Skills for Today’s Jobs

Sharelines Politicians often use the state of manufacturing in the United States as a benchmark for the economy as a whole. And they tend to focus on the supposedly declining number of manufacturing jobs as an indication of economic weakness.

It’s just a small step from there, as we have seen in the current presidential race, to blaming trade and globalization for the current state of affairs.But, as a recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, points out, much of this information is […]

US Manufacturing Cuts 9000 Jobs in October

US Manufacturing Cuts 9000 Jobs in October

By Bill Koenig US manufacturers pared 9000 jobs in October, with the machinery sector being the month’s big loser.

Both durable and non-durable goods contributed to the total manufacturing job loss. Makers of durable goods cut 5000 jobs while non-durable goods makers pared 4000, according to a breakdown by industry issued today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Within durable goods, machinery lost 6200 jobs. It was also the worst job performance of any manufacturing category. Other durable goods job losers included transportation equipment (down 2300). That included a loss of 100 jobs for motor vehicles and parts.Job durable goods job […]

Big data is the fourth industrial revolution

Big data is the fourth industrial revolution

Dynistics Managing Director, Robert Dagge shares insights from the FT Future of Manufacturing Summit

Britain’s manufacturing sector has just posted its strongest growth in over two years. Latest figures show that export orders have increased at their fastest rate since January 2014 and factories have also taken on more workers, with employment rising for the second consecutive month. However, the export benefits of a weakened pound will not last forever, and so, as the manufacturing sector continues to evolve, this year’s FT Future of Manufacturing Summit looked at how big data analytics, advanced robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) […]