Will artificial intelligence take over our jobs — and what does that mean for the economy and for ordinary people?
That is the question in this clip. After five years of the same argument from every side of the economic and political conflict, a response is needed. This is mine.
Every cycle looks like the end
With every cycle of a technocratic society, the evolution of technology creates a domino effect through the economy and through society. Years ago steam rapidly decreased the need for manual labor, and the need for horse operators and horse breeders. Paid PR campaigns dubbed steam railroads products of evil. The early subway lines were called the way to hell.
In reality the changing economy that rid itself of outdated positions created a larger number of jobs — jobs that required a much higher minimum level of education, plus support and maintenance. It is natural for humans to resist change. Sometimes that resistance is paid in blood.
General AI is not possible under current circumstances
General AI is not possible under current circumstances. Machine learning, and at the top of the pyramid — Autonomous Machine Intelligence — requires space, compute, and infrastructure. The models are made and trained by people, on clear problems. Today’s machine learning is a multiplier of human capability, if it is used right. AMI is control and transparency for large bodies — corporate headquarters, governments.
Why this wave is arriving now
The early growths are already in retail robotics: fully automated McDonald’s establishments, and machines sorting produce in the vegetable aisle at Whole Foods.
The rapid development in that area is not caused by increased compute behind tensor mathematics. It is caused by politicians who suppress the free economy, usurping more control through regulation. Business responded by eliminating the rudimentary jobs a machine can take over easily. In retrospect of the past five years, it is our children who lose the ability to have their summer temp jobs.
The work that opens
At this stage we need physical infrastructure, information security and physical security, scientific improvement. Every edge appliance — from sensors and cameras to local machines and robots — has to be developed, produced, and maintained. That is a blue ocean of the economy today.
Tomorrow this may lead to an entirely different society. It is neither good nor bad. It just is.
After the current stage of large capital investment into infrastructure and automation, the required economic processes will become easily accessible and relatively “cheap.” Automation will provide the minimum needs of society at minimal cost, or at no cost. Those who want an ambitious life with a larger contribution — doctors, teachers, scientists, space explorers — will get more in return. All of that is provided by the level of automation we are still building today.
The next question
What is happening to the job market, and where are the new-economy jobs created by this added automation? That is a subject worth a conversation. Send me your thoughts. I do not only want to share those ideas. I want to schedule a conference — in person or online — as an open-table conversation.
Contact me through all of these:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexandervsmirnov
Email: me@alexsmirnov.us
Website form: alexsmirnov.us (swap this when you send the form URL)
Watch the clip: https://youtu.be/hn5EB3NT_zI
Alex V. Smirnov is the CEO and Founder of DeepCity, Inc. (founded 2009), a Sovereign AI consultant to private and government clients, and a contributor to the Technology Integrity Council. He develops compliance standards for information security, infrastructure, and ethical AI development and implementation.
Series so far
Clip 1 — Public safety and privacy
Clip 2 — AI in crime prevention, and where human judgment stays irreplaceable
Clip 3 — Digital infrastructure: security, interoperability, trust
Clip 4 — Will AI take over our jobs?