Reading 11

The debate over the role in society that automation plays is becoming more and more relevant as technologies continue to become more advanced and put non-skilled laborers at risk of losing their jobs. The initial loss of unemployment from the installation of a new automated system can have a negative impact on more than just the wallets of those directly affected as seen in the article “A World Without Work.” The article states that following the shift of steel production from Youngstown, Ohio to abroad, “Youngstown was transformed not only by an economic disruption but also by a psychological and cultural breakdown. Depression, spousal abuse, and suicide all became much more prevalent; the caseload of the area’s mental-health center tripled within a decade.” This impact must be considered when weighing the pros and cons of potentially displacing many workers from their jobs.
Although the initial, short term impact of automation replacing jobs is, in some cases, extremely severe, as seen in Youngstown, I believe that automation is a good thing for our society and economy. As less-skilled jobs are replaced by artificial intelligence or automation, companies are able to higher more skilled workers within their company. In addition, the idea that a less-skilled job can or might be replaceable in the future provides incentive for individuals to specialize and master more technical skills that are at less of a risk of being replaced. Also, automation can help drive down the costs of goods being produced, which also has a positive economic impact on our society. The article “How Artificial Intelligence and Robots Will Radically Transform the Economy” discusses this idea saying, “As has happened throughout the history of automation, some jobs got destroyed by automated gas pumps, but new and often better jobs were created. Attendants went away, but to make the sophisticated pumps, companies like Wayne Fueling Systems in Texas, Bennett Pump Co. in Michigan and Gilbarco Veeder-Root in North Carolina hired software coders, engineers, sales staff and project managers. Station owners took their extra profits and turned their stations into mini-marts, which needed clerks, and built more gas stations, which needed more pumps from Wayne, Bennett or Gilbarco, and those companies then hired more people. Consumers spent less money on gas because they weren’t paying for someone else to pump it. That left them more money for iPhones or fish tacos ordered on Seamless, creating more new kinds of employment.” While this process which ultimately betters society and the economy may take some time, I believe that society as a whole should place more emphasis on long run improvement.

Throughout time technology has enabled people to switch focus and work on new, pressing issues. In the long run, automation allows individuals to specialize or work in a field that they may not have been able to before. I believe that as technology evolves, people must adapt with it in order to stay ahead. Perhaps, in order to combat the short term negative impact of job loss due to the implementation of automation, companies need to put a stronger focus on training individuals so that they do not loss their job at the company, but instead learn to work in a different area of it.

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