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If human factors are worth so much, why do people use ATM's? Why do people pump their own gas? Why do people buy anything online? If what you are saying was true small town America, with all it's local Mom & Pop shops, would still be bountiful today. I don't say this to poke holes in your theories or opinions but merely to present that you're trying to look at the future through the lens and limitations of the present.
Take the phone automation example that you stated. I think you're assuming that its the best tech we'll ever see for that application. That's not the case. Just because the current iteration sucks doesn't mean that future versions will also. Imagine what future versions of Siri/Ok Google could be like. Now imagine that interface to this kind of a system. Would it still suck? If current voice recognition systems continue to advance at the exponential rates they have been, it won't be very long until 80+% of the people probably wouldn't even know it was an AI system answering their calls.
Without sounding too much like a futurist, AI, infinite computing, IoT are all going through explosive changes right now. It's not just the "useless people" that need to worry about their jobs. Neural networks are enabling computers to learn without the benefit of prior history. Computers are beginning to be able to program software and optimize algorithms. While this is still in it's relative infancy, that growth path is also exponential. As access to information grows and is democratized, and computing power continues along Moore's path, computers will be able to analyze and determine optimal solutions for highly complex problems. This will enable computers to start replacing white collar workers as well as blue. I believe that it will start with roles that are more technical than creative. Don't believe me? Look at the current Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize. If doctors can begin to be replaced, or deemed unnecessary in some limited capacity to start with by this device, who is next?
Need more evidence? How about an algorithm replacing staff to prescreen job applications? "Our analysis of 17 studies of applicant evaluations shows that a simple equation outperforms human decisions by at least 25%." While it's not a robot in the traditional physical sense like you're alluding to, it's certainly able to replace a person's role in the company.
Expand your mind!
Take the phone automation example that you stated. I think you're assuming that its the best tech we'll ever see for that application. That's not the case. Just because the current iteration sucks doesn't mean that future versions will also. Imagine what future versions of Siri/Ok Google could be like. Now imagine that interface to this kind of a system. Would it still suck? If current voice recognition systems continue to advance at the exponential rates they have been, it won't be very long until 80+% of the people probably wouldn't even know it was an AI system answering their calls.
Without sounding too much like a futurist, AI, infinite computing, IoT are all going through explosive changes right now. It's not just the "useless people" that need to worry about their jobs. Neural networks are enabling computers to learn without the benefit of prior history. Computers are beginning to be able to program software and optimize algorithms. While this is still in it's relative infancy, that growth path is also exponential. As access to information grows and is democratized, and computing power continues along Moore's path, computers will be able to analyze and determine optimal solutions for highly complex problems. This will enable computers to start replacing white collar workers as well as blue. I believe that it will start with roles that are more technical than creative. Don't believe me? Look at the current Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize. If doctors can begin to be replaced, or deemed unnecessary in some limited capacity to start with by this device, who is next?
Need more evidence? How about an algorithm replacing staff to prescreen job applications? "Our analysis of 17 studies of applicant evaluations shows that a simple equation outperforms human decisions by at least 25%." While it's not a robot in the traditional physical sense like you're alluding to, it's certainly able to replace a person's role in the company.
Expand your mind!
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