There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot...

[IceWendigo]

"There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot can not do better." -Elon Musk

Elon Musk has pointed out at some world summit in Dubai that eventually, significant adjustments will be required in the economic system because of automation, hes pointing to Universal Basic Income as a potential mitigation mechanism (I think the monertary system is probably outdated but thats another story)

[Rockhopper]

You're onto it Ice. The UBI is going to be the big thing in the near future.

We need to look at ways of creating work that can not be done by robots.

Tim.

[Kaere]

I suppose we'll have to start looking for ways of fulfillment that have nothing to do with 'work' as well. It's all well and good to have a universal income, wonderful. Everyone taken care of... but a world full of bored petulant children is a potential problem looking for a fuse.

[IceWendigo]

Without the burden of working because you have to and the monetary obstacles to access what you need to do what you want, people could both have the time and the means to do what they want, give their time, create artwork and give it to those who would like it, help, volunteer and join others on projects that would improve the community. 3d printing and automation will make it easier for people to create and shape a better future.

[Lenzabi]

Robots took 'er Jerbs!

[Kaere]

An interesting perspective that I feel belongs here.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-robots-pay-taxes-2017-2?utm_content=buffer68d1f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Bill Gates says robots that take your job should pay taxes.

Just because a worker isn't technically "alive" doesn't mean it can make money for nothing, according to Bill Gates.

In a recent interview with Quartz editor-in-chief Kevin Delaney, the billionaire philanthropist explained that robot labor should get taxed just like human labor — primarily as a way to maintain funding for society's many social services.

"You can't just give up that income tax," Gates said.

Economists and future-minded techies alike, Gates included, have been discussing the looming threat of robotic automation for several years now. An Oxford report from 2013 found robots could displace up to 50% of jobs between 2023 and 2033. And a 2015 McKinsey report concluded that today's technology could replace 45% of jobs right now.

The bulk of those lost jobs will likely come, at least initially, in telemarketing, tax preparation, and many retail service jobs. In 2016, a PwC report found drones could replace $126 billion worth of labor in infrastructure and agriculture.

If and when that happens, Gates doesn't believe the manufacturers of those robots should be able to reap the profits generated by the automated labor without paying some sort of tax. The system would be similar to how the government takes a portion of people's wages to support social programs, such as healthcare, infrastructure, and law enforcement.

Gates sees a robot tax as contributing to a portion of those programs whose workforces are in short supply. He points to the examples of teaching, elder care, and helping kids with special needs. With the proper training and fulfillment, people who lose their jobs to robots could fill those kinds of roles and have their salaries paid
for by the tax.

At which point, Gates says, "you're net ahead."

More extreme solutions to robot automation include negative income tax — a system in which the government pays citizens based on their income, not the other way around — and universal basic income, where people receive a set amount of money each month just for being alive.

Gates has criticized simply giving people money based on the idea that one-time transfers are fleeting; however, he has not addressed the premise of guaranteed recurring payments over long periods of time.

[Stargate]

To over do anything will create a problem, our minds work on creative juices, if we use it to create robotic programs that counter that natural program, we have no clue where that would lead. Are we getting too advanced without checks and balance? Or have we reached the limit of our creative speed?

[Lenzabi]

Well, in the Utopian view in Star Trek, folks would be freed up to spend time writing, thinking, problem solving, exploring, making new things and seeing what folks think of arts, 3d prints, and even attempts to improve one self. Things we currently can't do while trying to survive with mounting rents/mortgages, bills, and food costs climbing, as well as transportation.

In America, anyone making under 20k a year has little left over after saving what they can to live like a human being, just a working drone, more so if married with kids. BUT if folks had a decent stipend of say 30-50k a year and then sought work on top of that with part time jobs for the sake of liking to do work, well then they could make more money and be safe cushioned and happy. "Icing on their cake" as it were.

[Stargate]

Len, you are way over the top with 20K, a year. When we are young we need less money than when we are old, reason being we need some one to help with the things we can no longer can do. Truth is we get much less and so we cannot maintain what one would call a normal life style.

I think there is a terrible breakdown in the understanding of science and what is necessary for what we call normal living. Science is approaching a place where the humans cannot follow, science is not worth anything if we the people cannot use or understand it, that makes no sense at all.

If we continue to make machines that does human work then turn around and make machines that make robots, leaves my mind in limbo trying to make sense of what I am thinking. Our limbs have no use if we do not use them, so where is this all going.

[Lenzabi]

Being on disability I get barely over 13k a year and it is not as easy to live off of. I also stated it is worse for a family making so little. If robots get all those jobs, what indeed?

[Rockhopper]

Our Pension is NZ$24K/year and Jaks works as well. I also get free doctors visits and free prescriptions (War Pension). I get other things I may need as required. We are almost getting a UBI as it stands.

One of the criticisms of a UBI is where will the money come from to pay for it. One suggestion is to tax the work of a robot at the same level as a person doing the work. Can't see a boss agreeing to that but.

Tim,

[Lenzabi]

either there will be a way they figure UBI, or they may see some ugly behavior in the streets from angry folks.

[Stargate]

either there will be a way they figure UBI, or they may see some ugly behavior in the streets from angry folks.

Either way Len, people are going to be in the streets in 2017 as never before. Things are not really changing in terms of what the world needs, but fulling promises that may never be able to happen. We are not getting wiser, we are getting more docile and accepting. Robots cannot save the world if humans can't.

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