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Humanoid Robot "Pepper" is displayed at SoftBank Mobile shop in Tokyo, Friday, June 6, 2014. AP/Press Association Images

'Automation is Voldemort': tech experts polled on the future impact of robots and AI

“What are people for in a world that does not need their labour, and where only a minority are needed to guide the ‘bot-based economy?’”

ROBOTS AND ARTIFICIALLY intelligent devices will take over many jobs now done by people, and experts are divided as to whether their spread will do human society more good than harm.

The Pew Research Center said experts see a growing role for self-driving cars, delivery drones, robotic workers, smartphone-based assistants and even algorithmic journalism by 2025.

But they are divided on whether these technological advances will be helpful, with 48% of respondents to Pew’s survey saying they will destroy jobs and increase income inequality.

Nevertheless, a slim majority said the technology will take over undesirable tasks and generate new kinds of human employment.

The report is not based on a randomised poll sample, but instead on an opt-in survey of people deemed experts or affiliated with certain organisations, taken between November 2013 and January 2014.

Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Internet Project, said experts see “the accelerating displacement of work that can be done more efficiently and cost-effectively” by robots.

This means “a transformation of labour, especially in the fields of transportation, fast food and medicine; freedom from day-to-day drudgery that allows people to define work in a more positive and socially beneficial way.”

But Rainie said many see this as leading to “a shrinking of the middle class and expansion of the ranks of the unemployed.”

‘Automation is Voldemort’

“Automation is (the ‘Harry Potter’ villain) Voldemort: the terrifying force nobody is willing to name,” said Jerry Michalski, founder of Relationship Economy eXpedition, a think tank of corporate executives.

The race between automation and human work is won by automation, and as long as we need fiat currency to pay the rent/mortgage humans will fall out of the system in droves as this shift takes place.

Stowe Boyd, lead researcher at GigaOM Research, said the growing use of autonomous vehicles will take away important jobs for men such as truck and taxi drivers.

“An increasing proportion of the world’s population will be outside of the world of work – either living on the dole, or benefiting from the dramatically decreased costs of goods to eke out a subsistence lifestyle,” he said.

“The central question of 2025 will be: What are people for in a world that does not need their labour, and where only a minority are needed to guide the ‘bot-based economy?’”

Netherlands RoboCup In this photo taken Thursday, June 27, 2013 robots in the standard platform division compete at the RoboCup championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Justin Reich at Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society, said, robots and artificial intelligence “will increasingly replace routine kinds of work – even the complex routines performed by artisans, factory workers, lawyers, and accountants.”

Others were optimistic such as JP Rangaswami, chief scientist for Salesforce.com.

“The very nature of work will have changed radically by 2025, but only in economies that have chosen to invest in education, technology and related infrastructure,” he said.

Some classes of jobs will be handed over to the ‘immigrants’ of AI and robotics, but more will have been generated in creative and curating activities as demand for their services grows exponentially.

Vint Cerf, chief Internet evangelist for Google, said: “Historically, technology has created more jobs than it destroys and there is no reason to think otherwise in this case. Someone has to make and service all these advanced devices.”

dancing robot asimo

The report is based on views from nearly 1,900 respondents selected by Pew because of their background.

They were affiliated to think tanks; companies including Cisco Systems, British Telecom and Microsoft; universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; news organisations and activist groups such as the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Is a Terminator-style robot apocalypse a possibility? >

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    Mute Alan mulvey
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:09 AM

    Have they not being talking about this since the boom?

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    Mute Mick Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 3:57 PM

    It smells like political posturing to me. The info in the paper during was in direct contradiction of what the minister said before Christmas – ruling out tax credits because as he said in a parliamentary question a system of tax allowances would not benefit parents working in the home and could be seen as discriminatory. In addition, tax reliefs would favour the high paid while those on the minimum wage or in part-time work would not benefit to the same extent. Secondly he ruled out the second ECCE year now it back on the table. He’s doing a political cha cha because of the growing momentum for the Association of Childhood Professionals petition and 17th February rally which is even more reason to keep the pressure going. These hollow promises are just to attempt to quieten voices but I for one was raging when I read the article. This committee too is just a stalling tactic too, it will take several months for the committee to be formed, compile the data, launch it, then it will gather dust for a bit and hay presto it’s election time and they’re gone. Surly there is enough reports done of the years that can be dusted off and acted on. I for one will be at the Dail on 17th Feb with the ACP using my voice and looking for positive change. #oneunitedvoice (rant over)

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    Mute Mick Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Here’s the link for the petition for the government to invest in our children early years education, please support, sign and share https://www.change.org/p/enda-kenny-respect-value-and-resource-all-areas-of-early-childhood-education-and-care

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Childcare costs….like paying two mortgages.

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    Mute Eugene Doyle
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:36 AM

    The problem is…..it is election spin!!!

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    Mute Stuart Keogh
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:02 AM

    Course it is, it’s the same government that threatened to cut child benefit if we didn’t sign up to IW, “but childcare services are important to them” pffffft

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    Mute Nobby Donnelly
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:17 AM

    Still early – i thought the headline was about making irish children more adorable..

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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 14th 2015, 9:08 AM

    That made me smile this morning. Thank you

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    Mute selita
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    Jan 14th 2015, 9:36 AM

    The first thing they need to do is look at the childcare subvention scheme and community childcare.

    Why oh why are the government subsidising childcare for those who choose not to work.
    Yes I know there will be do-gooders who will say the child needs it, that maybe these parents are looking for work etc. there is millions wasted, I work in the community sector and as a working parent there is nothing that drives me mad than meeting parents (who choose NOT to work) leaving their kids off at crèche a few mornings a week, so that they get ‘a break’ and pay between €20-€30(and complain having to pay this) for the privilege as the government subsidises this. Yet I have to pay full crèche fees of a grand and pay tax. While there are numerous families struggling to pay bills and childcare, there are huge numbers of subsidised crèche places being taking up by parents who do not work or train and do not want to!!

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    Mute Rakel
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:57 AM

    Selita, maybe the fact that some people ‘choose’ to stay at home and take responsibility for the majority of their childs care should be praised and not criticised. Of course people who do this have less money and that is why they need subsidised fees, or are they simply not entitled to a ‘break’ because they don’t put their child in crèche for 8+ hours a day and subscribe to a societal norm that is about as anti-family as it gets!

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    Mute Rakel
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    Jan 14th 2015, 11:00 AM

    Caring for a child/family is very much work as you should know. So sick of people undervaluing the role of the parent in the home.

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    Mute Henry Fleming
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    Jan 14th 2015, 11:15 AM

    Rakel, looks like you completely missed the point made!!

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    Mute Rakel
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    Jan 14th 2015, 12:12 PM

    No I see her point Henry, and have no problem with the cost of childcare coming down for working families, but I didn’t like her comments in relation to parents who don’t work!

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    Mute mammy
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    Jan 14th 2015, 1:54 PM

    But how are they going to go and buy their breakfast rolls and Johnny blues without having to share with the chizzlers?

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    Mute selita
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    Jan 14th 2015, 4:35 PM

    I am not undervaluing the stay at home parent, it is something I would aspire to be!!! Rakel I am talking about parents (both) who CHOOSE NOT to work and have no intention of working, having numerous kids….claim social welfare benefits, social housing etc. Parents not wanting to work and putting there child into a crèche 20-25 hours per week is hardly looking after their children? if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t have my kids in crèche, why would I? as a working mother when do I get a break, im up at 6am, kids feed and clothed, dropped off, in work run of my feet, work through lunch so I can get out early, pick up kids, spend time with them, make dinner, bed time routine, clean up and finally sit down at 10pm and off to bed at 10.30, woken at least once a night by my baby.
    I HAVE to work in order to keep a roof over my kids head, if I gave up work we would lose our home, I cant sell as we are in negative equity, I would love a large family, but that is not possible.

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    Mute martintim
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:47 AM

    Anyone who believes them needs their head examined, they’ll make the price higher with some kind of creche tax if anything

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    Mute Alison Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:58 AM

    And it will only apply to crèches even if you have a childminder through the tax system. Seems fair, not!!!

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    Mute Philip
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    Jan 14th 2015, 11:59 AM

    Those that choose to look after their own children rather than get some stranger to look after them.

    What help are they getting?

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    Mute Snorre N Skalagrimmerson
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    Jan 14th 2015, 9:58 AM

    Pure spin by the anti family anti people FG/LAB JUNTA

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    Mute deerhounddog
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:30 AM

    Pune spin.

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    Mute deerhounddog
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:34 AM

    Pure spin

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    Mute Richie Rice
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:25 AM

    What else would it be, soak it up Pixies.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Child care should be more affordable but not on the backs of the tax payer, we pay enough as it is to support other peoples children.

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    Mute Sian O Sullivan
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:47 AM

    So are you suggesting everyone should fill out a little form every month indicating what their tax should be spent on ???

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    Mute Mick Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 4:02 PM

    these are the future tax payers who will be paying into you pension and elderly care, try to see the big picture.

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