technological unemployment and the robo-economy
TRANSCRIPT
Workshop: Work, Labor, and AutomationNew York NY, Jan 23, 2017Slides: http://slideshare.net/LaBlogga
Bitcoin and Automation Economy
Melanie SwanPhilosophy & Economic TheoryNew School University, NY NY
Technological UnemploymentTransition to the Automation Economy and Robo-human Futures
Part of a Series on the Philosophy of Economic Theorycryptophilosophy
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy 2
Melanie Swan Philosophy and Economic Theory, New School
University, New York NY Founder, Institute for Blockchain Studies Singularity University Instructor; Institute for Ethics and
Emerging Technology Affiliate Scholar; EDGE Essayist; FQXi Advisor
Traditional Markets BackgroundEconomic Theory
Leadership
New Economies research grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/NewEconomies
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
No
3
Yes Not sure
From Book chapter:Swan, M. "Automation Economy: An Abundance Philosophy of Economics" In Surviving the Machine Economy. Eds. Hughes, LaGrandeur, Palgrave Macmillan. 2017.
Do you want a robot to take your job?
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Thesis
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Technological Unemployment (jobs outsourced to technology) is coming…
…the challenge is to steward an orderly and beneficial transition to the Automation Economy of more intense human-technology collaboration
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Technological Unemployment Definition: jobs outsourced to technology
Estimate: Half (47%) of employment is at risk of automation in the next two decades – Carl Frey, Oxford, 2015
Global driverless-car market $42 billion by 2025 – BCG, 2015 Transportation = 10% GDP – US DOT, 2002
Why are there still so many jobs in a world that could be automating more quickly? – David Autor, MIT, 2015
5Source: Swan, M. "Is Technological Unemployment Real?” In Surviving the Machine Age: Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Human Work. James Hughes and Kevin LaGrandeur, Eds., Palgrave Macmillan, Forthcoming 2017.
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Technological Unemployment is coming
Good news or bad news?
6Source: http://www.robotandhwang.com/attorneys/
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Technological Unemployment The real issue is human identity crisis in a world of technology
Lower-level problem (non-trivial but solvable): Assumption that it is bad news (robots taking jobs), when the
very promise of technology is delivering an easier life Paternalistic worry about what individuals will do with
additional free time (“idle hands”) Income inequality, ownership of means of production, GBI
7GBI: Guaranteed Basic Income allowance for all; blockchain-based; Source: Swan, M. (2015). Blockchain: Blueprint for a New Economy, http://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Blueprint-New-World-Currency/dp/1491920491
Harder challenge: human identity crisis Defining our identity as a function of labor
tasks and lower-level cognitive output We do not know who we are because we
have not had the luxury to consider who we can be in realizing our full potential as human beings
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Who are we? Human identity crisis
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Maslow’s (original) hierarchy of needs
Survive(reach baseline)
Thrive(extend baseline)
Source: Swan, M. (2017). Cognitive Easing: Human Identity Crisis in a World of Technology, http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/Swan20170107.
So…we don’t know who we are, and we are out of a job So far, we have had to focus more on the lower levels of
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for surviving instead of envisioning what thriving would look like
?
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Step 1: Reconceive Life
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Work Leisure
Community
Sports, exercise
Creativity
Learning
Music Art
Spirituality
Groups, clubs
Source: Swan, M. (2016). Abundance Economics. http://www.slideshare.net/lablogga/abundance-economics
Productive engagement of human faculties (via job 2.0 or other)
Health
TeachingRelaxation
Fun
Life 1.0
Meta: life design, feedback loop
Life 2.0
Job of the future: life coach becomes
life designer
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Step 2: Call to +Psychology Entrepreneurs Design experiences for human needs
Prediction: more activities in model of “Toastmasters” and “World of Warcraft” Structured path for mastery Toastmasters: regular, interactive, learning
community of competition, support, fun Video games: immediate gratification,
positive reinforcement, progress, competition, team-work, rewards
10Source: PERMA, Seligman, M., U Penn, https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/perma-model/
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Step 3: Shift to Abundance Economics
11Source: Swan, M. "Automation Economy: An Abundance Philosophy of Economics" In Emerging Technology and Unemployment. Palgrave Macmillan. Forthcoming.
Emphasize the production and consumption of intangible social goods in addition to material goods Trust, recognition, freedom, belonging, acknowledgement
A
B
C
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Step 4: Reframe power & status to >sum-zero Decrease in violence, but power and status are still not
sum-zero (they are won at the expense of another) Effect: Sum-zero power and status result in income inequality
and worsening quality of life attributes (crime, health, trust) Power: reframe to “power with” not “power over”
Efficient group coordination models (convergent facilitation) Status: reframe to need for recognition, mattering,
acknowledgement; internal locus of determinacy
12Source: http://futurememes.blogspot.com/2015/07/antidote-to-holocracy-blockchain-smart.html
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Step 5: Vision for robo-human flourishing
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Survive(reach baseline)
Human-Robot Relation
Thrive(extend baseline)
2.0: Interdependence and mutual care-taking, inspiration, and support
“Yes-and Bot”
1.0: Master-slave power dynamic
The most rewarding human-robot relationships will be those that evolve from master-slave power dynamics to those with reciprocity, mutual recognition, interdependence, learning, and care-taking
Effects: robots help produce intangible social goods and solve human Identity crisis by facilitating higher Maslow levels
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy 14
Robo-human Futures
Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy
Thesis
15
Technological Unemployment (jobs outsourced to technology) is coming…
…the challenge is to steward an orderly and beneficial transition to the Automation Economy of more intense human-technology collaboration
Workshop: Work, Labor, and AutomationNew York NY, Jan 23, 2017Slides: http://slideshare.net/LaBlogga
Bitcoin and Automation Economy
Melanie SwanPhilosophy & Economic TheoryNew School University, NY NY
Technological UnemploymentTransition to the Automation Economy and Robo-human Futures
Part of a Series on the Philosophy of Economic Theorycryptophilosophy
Thank You! Questions?
Acknowledgement for providing Review Comments: Ming Fu, U Pennt