The answer for this problem depends on what we want it to be. First, we have to understand what is making value and providing what people want and need. If we want value to be made by robots then we need to have a political structure that allows this and let's people live well on those profits. If we want to provide the making of value ourselves then we need to legislate for that. If robots provide the making of value and profit without providing some support to the population then the population will have to allow this. If we do then we will have to get our needs and wants provided by other means. What other means is there. The only one that I know of. Is to produce your own value and profit, grow your own food, trade what you can do or have for the resources needed. If people can provide for themselves without that which is made by a robot and a corporation those businesses will fail. Is this really a possibility? I would think not. What do you think?

I agree completely however we have not kept our education programs up to date with technology to create new jobs and new directions. We will never return to the old ways therefore we must learn new things that the average person can use to support themselves. This isn't very easy because of the speed that technology is moving but it is a fact.

I agree completely however we have not kept our education programs up to date with technology to create new jobs and new directions. We will never return to the old ways therefore we must learn new things that the average person can use to support themselves. This isn't very easy because of the speed that technology is moving but it is a fact.

Good observation. If you take the scinario to the end, no one has a job because machines do everything. So what then do companies make and who do they sell it to? It seem that this "progress" puts every one out of work and every company out of business.

The right wingers and hardcore capitalists think that the economy will evolve and something will come along to replenish the demand for workers in new jobs. They think there will be more service jobs. I think they are full of shit. The more automation takes over, the quicker capitalism falls.....unless they keep a balance instead of full fledged automation. Being that corporations seek more profit and less costs, I see them trying to implement full fledged automation. Less jobs means less money for the majority of people which means less spending. The rich don't spend nearly as much as the regular citizens in terms of products that keep an economy afloat. How could they? It's like 99/1. In a survey of the richest top 10% of American millionaires, 44% of them considered themselves middle class, while another 40% of them considered themselves upper middle class for fucks sake. That's how out of touch they are! So the rich will benefit from it short term. They are the only ones who benefit from it. I think if it's implemented long term though, it will hurt everyone. Unless there is some universal basic income. The right wing doesn't want that either though.

First: Thanks for posting this as it's a critical paradim shift in our economic culture. So,here's my take on it:
Brick & mortar stores are pretty much done. I think in the next decade, unless you're providing a walk-in service like a hair salon, you're gone.
Personally, I go to Lowes, Krogers, and a few wine shops. And all of those are switching to order on-line and either pick-up at the store or it's delivered.
Everything else I buy is from Amazon.
But! The flip side of this is garage businesses.
I've a home business in a single bay garage, that 20 years ago would not have been possible cnc machinery and the Internet are incredible "force multiplers" for entrepreneurs.
The critical requirement everyone must realize is ADAPTABILITY. If you cannot adapt to a rapidly changing world, you'll be left in the dust.

I forgot the numbers but I needed to go to consulate. No longer employs people. I talk by phone to someone in Asia. Only 10% of people will have jobs. I am sure that the 10% workers will not want to support the 90% not working. Sweden tried and the country is GONE. It is now a shit country, more people leaving then wanting to go in. What is really scare is that all the unemployed youth will have no morals, no respect for authority, no brains, but a lot of guns. Do you know why Fema built the future concentration camps? Why Fema bought more ammo then was expended in all of the middle east wars? The future is not pretty and fewer people will get in the longer the status quo will hold. The highest quality of life is in places with lowest population density. Why those idiots complain about the wall? Do they want to commit suicide? Our children will hate us; soon and for a good reason.

There is a lot of potential for benefit. Automation creates an enormous amount of wealth, which is unfortunately distributed only to the very rich. But this is, as it has already been pointed out, a political issue. The wealth needs to be spread among the whole population. Especially considering that big corporations like Microsoft, Apple, Facebook etc. were given enormous amounts of government subsidies through tax breaks. At the moment the situation is not very good, but there is also the possibility of automation making life easier for human beings in the near to far future.

Awesome topic! Don’t think there’s an answer yet.

The speed of automation advancements makes it really hard to quantify exactly how to reign it in.. I’m at a loss for an answer.
I will note that I just transferred money and paid a few bills from my couch. Hard to be mad about that..
It’s a conundrum.

Technical and corporate progress isn't at fault for neighbors who don't have jobs. That's a political talking point and the actual answer is far less simple. More computers and more corporations mean that there is different work to be done, not less. The inability of society, education, and individuals to adapt is not the fault of progress. Progress has always existed and will always take jobs. Get used to it and learn to overcome.

More money for the powerful!

The top 1%....
I keep thinking of Mad Max

It is unclear how automation will affect society. As automation takes jobs, businesses have lower expenses and the price of things will trend towards zero. If governments do not provide food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, people will suffer and die, and there will be riots and rebellions. The outcomes are impossible to predict.

Wow, I like that word Corporitisation. Never heard it before. I find it more and more even in the simple things. Take for instance check out lines at the grocery store that are now automated. Not only is a machine doing the cash register job of the now missing person but we, the customers are now doing the scanning and bagging without receiving any type of discount for doing that part of the job. Even EZ Pass has taken jobs away from toll collectors. I wonder how long before a woman goes for a manicure, puts her hands in a machine and gets a cuticle trim and nail polish.