Will Automation, AI, and Robots Lead to Widespread Unemployment?

Abstract

Automation eliminates certain jobs, as it has for hundreds of years. These disruptions are painful to many, but there are benefits of expanded production, increased quality, and lower costs to consumers, which often increases employment opportunities for many people. Controversies rage about Amazon's rapid growth, facilitated by automation in fulfillment centers, but at the same time their employee numbers have grown ten times in the past decade. While agricultural employment has dropped dramatically in the past hundred years, it has also led to more jobs in food distribution, supermarkets, and restaurants. At the same time, healthcare jobs have grown substantially for nursing, home care, personal training, and medical managers. New industries include software engineering, financial management, and renewable energy systems installation. The challenges are to ensure safety for workers and share the benefits of automation widely.