I cannot say that innovation has not contributed significantly to shaping our social, economical, and political world that we live in today. Modern technology, especially automation and AI, has the power to radically change the world in terms of transportation, manufacturing, and even international development. However, while I do agree we should always continue to innovate and look towards the future role of technology in the world, we absolutely cannot forget to consider the equally as radical negative implications that a shift to automation would cause for society. A change of this scale is unprecedented and unexplored territory and while we should not be afraid of what is to come, we must be prepared for what might happen in consequence. In this case, a shift to automation in many low-level, laborious jobs could result in massive unemployment rates for the citizens in which robots replace. There seems to be mixed results in some of the economic studies on the subject, including some that determine foreign trade has a larger effect on American unemployment, and therefore the effects of automation do not need to be addressed but this is silly and unethical. As a programmer we study the worst case and the worst case of this situation should matter and be considered. A massive shift to automation in low level jobs would result in the most vulnerable and marginalized populations being forced into unemployment with a lack of resources and capital to find another profession or support their families. The United States is already experiencing some of the highest rates of socioeconomic inequality in the world and the problem of inequality will only be severely exacerbated come a shift to automation. Inequality has risen significantly and, as was discussed in one of the articles, America will soon no longer be a place to fulfill the American Dream. Increased unemployment due to automation may result in the further division between rich and poor in this country, similar to what has been observed with technological revolutions in the passed.
While the possible effects on inequality should in and of themselves be enough to convince people that the effects of automation are serious and must be acknowledged, one can also consider that much of our individual experiences within society are based on our ability to actively take part in it and be a productive member of it. This is part of our inherent human dignity that each of us carries as a member of the global society. Automation would result in the undermining of one of the most basic human experiences for all of these people. We value connection to each other and to the wider society and to accept this being taken away from some of the most foundational members of our society is saddening. It is hard to hear people such as the first author write, “While technology is partly responsible for years of middle-class wage stagnation, it has mostly hurt the less educated and helped the more educated,” and then have the ability to, without a blink of an eye, move on like the ideology behind complacency with this statement is not the reason for our societal division today. My family has owned a small trucking company in Los Angeles for most of my life and it became my grandfather’s livelihood and legacy. I have studied a bit about the impacts of automation on the trucking industry and while I may be partial, it would hurt me to see my family unable to get back on its feet because robots that I helped create took their jobs. Respect for others and their rights to fully participate in society are all you need to see that we must be prepared for what is to come, whether that be pulling the world out of another Dark Age or dividing its people even further.
Ethics 