There have been phases of automation. An earlier phase (mid 20th c.) saw the elimination of many metal-bashing “male” jobs. AI is set to do the same to “women’s work”. Receptionists, PAs, Librarians, Admin Staff and HR. These roles were core to the domestic work portfolio of “traditional families” or households with two earning adults and 2.4 children. We rightly parody the John Lewis and Waitrose Christmas adverts. However, as teams of men with barrows have been replaced by diggers and cranes and now robot diggers and robot cranes, so teams of typically female admin staff will be replaced by AI. But these were the jobs that balanced out the losses of earlier phases of atuomation, and enabled aspirational households with decent work, health care and holidays. This is or was the European (now globalised) middle class. These jobs bought people stuff, took people places. Critique Benidorm or Bahrain, Patiyah or Prague, service industries need people to serve. Will only 6 people be able to afford the first billion-dollar car while 6 billion others walk the earth thirsty, or drown on dangerous sea crossings, or are mown down by 6 billion robot drones?
rWorld2 