What is it about?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to have a significant impact on work. It will enhance, but also displace, some professions. This historical investigation finds that the AI revolution, like previous technological evolutions, will go through stages. Initial implementations will suffer from failures that will, however, generate employment; but, as the technology improves, the AI revolution is likely to be fully integrated into corporate systems enhance productivity and thus displace workers.
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Why is it important?
Up to this point, the US Government has not been able to respond adequately to the challenge of work displacement in the past and current policies indicate that we will be again ill-prepared. While AI will generate new jobs these are unlikely to be taken by those displaced. We can thus have a generation of people falling into poverty if an adequate support system is not put in place
Perspectives
While there is great enthusiasm about AI, myself included, I am worried that we have not taken full consideration to the implications it will have on those displaced. Much hope is put in STEM education but we fail to remember that 60% of the US population does not pursue a college education much less STEM. In addition, those displaced are already in the job market unlikely to invest time and resources on educating themselves. We saw the devastating effects of automation and globalization in both the manufacturing of cars in the upper midwest as well as in the produciton of coal in Appalachia. It resulted in multi-generational poverty with bankrupt cities. Similar faith can ensue if plans are not set in place to alleviate for AIs employment disruption
Dr. Martha A Garcia-Murillo
Syracuse University Department of Science Teaching
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: AI’s path to the present and the painful transitions along the way, Digital Policy Regulation and Governance, May 2019, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/dprg-09-2018-0051.
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