Uncle Roger's Notebooks of Daily Life

Bring on the Robots

When I was young and naive, I believed that someday, perhaps even in my lifetime, technology would get to the point where all of the basic tasks necessary for our survival could be done by autonomous machines -- robots.

Once that happened, the need for humans to work would be limited to maintaining the robotic workforce. Humans would not have to work, unless they so desired. Of course, there would always be plenty of room for people to work if they wanted, but mostly in creative ways (writing, painting, inventing) or for added value (handcrafted or retro items). There will always be a need for humans to interact with other humans -- helping someone find a book in a bookstore, assisting someone in selecting the best computer for them, teaching someone how to do something.

The point here would be that it would free people up to do that which they wanted to do, rather than that which they had to do to pay the bills. Cheap labor would mean cheap food, cheap clothes, cheap housing. People could spend their time creating art or caring for their children or parents, or engaging in acts of public service. If there were jobs that needed to be done -- and there almost certainly would be -- they wouldn't need to be full-time. If everyone worked a day or two each week, it would all be taken care of.

The rest of the time could be spent with family or friends, in the pursuit of greater knowledge, or creating art. Parents would have time to read to their children. Children would be able to visit their elderly parents and grandparents. People would have time. Life would be good.

Okay, so it's not very realistic, but surely some of it is feasible? Some of this technology has been put in place already, especially in manufacturing. And yet, all we have to show for it is... nothing. Actually, what we have to show for it is a handful of people who have gotten richer. It seems that rather than share the new found productivity with ordinary people (in the form of lower prices), they have chosen to keep it for themselves (as greater profits). Something is rather wrong with this.