What is it about?
Robotics and AI are said to be ushering in unprecedented economic and social transformations. We critically evaluate these claims and propose, as an alternative to arguments about both profound change and no real change, a perspective emphasising complexity and uncertainty around contemporary and future trends.
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Why is it important?
The study provides a critical assessment of business and policy-oriented debates, which assume that robotics and AI will lead to unprecedented social transformation in employment, arising from processes of technological innovation. Our stand is one of scepticism rather than outright opposition towards the clamour of voices predicting a transformative technological revolution. It is also multidisciplinary, drawing upon insights from economic history, economics, sociology, anthropology and political economy.
Perspectives
I hope that we succeed in encouraging people to consider the implications of emerging robotics and AI technologies in ways that are less deterministic, and more sensitive to complexity and uncertainty, than is often the case.
Ross Boyd
University of South Australia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Technology, innovation, employment and power: Does robotics and artificial intelligence really mean social transformation?, Journal of Sociology, August 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1440783317726591.
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