I am a cog, an ant, a worker bee. I work full time in an old school factory. Where machines perform their duties, but only because a human made it do it, and even then there are routine errors. I started out as an Assembler, and advanced to Mechanical Technician. Nothing about my work changed. I got a raise cause I signaled I would not stay unless I got more money.

What we make, can’t readily be done by a robot. Advancement hasn’t yet produced AI/robots that are identical in dexterity and speed to humans. Not anything that is affordable by companies that would use them. The tightness of the container that houses the workings of the Actuator that goes into a helicopter are such that it takes a month to get adept at squeezing everything in. It’s akin to watch making. We don’t make millions of these things so why automate when humans are still cheaper?

This type of work can’t be off-shored. We make ITAR goods so this work for the most part stays put in the US. As this world shifts, old school factory work like this is not going to just disappear. Same thing with the idea that self-driving trucks will eliminate all the trucking jobs. It lacks clear understanding of those jobs, and their difficulties, by the people designing the self-driving mechanisms.

My point here is that the tech world is looking way too far into the future. Yes, a good idea. But we have how many issues going right now? Maybe we should solve healthcare first?

Capitalism can’t carry us boldly into the future. Work and jobs are less of an issue in comparison to a system that was built around a small percentage of people doing little work, and everyone else working to stay alive.

This idea that sweat and blood does not make us human is antiquated, and propped up by people lacking humanity. That is why there is always a new wave of entrepreneurs. People want to be creative and strive. If corporations, employers, and industry focused on humanity before profit. I, then believe that we actually have a better shot at the futures being proposed by the tech sector. If the tech sector ignores humanity, and continues to focus on profit margins for the few, then I don’t believe that anyone will be able to quell the eventual uprising. Why? Because of the word “disruption”. If we only shift towards automation for the sake of profit things will get ugly. It might not happen while we are alive, but humanity has a way of surviving and thriving that is unique. Revolution is a way of surviving and thriving.

P.S. Although, I do believe there is merit to ditching the ways we organize work and schedules. More flexibility, and less hours would make life infinitely more humane.