"Computers and robots are a blessing for humanity!" - "Without robots mankind can not develop further!" - These are just a few of many phrases that want to boost the extremely fast and exponentially advancing technical development.
Admittedly, it is impressive and at the same time fascinating, what robots and computer programs are already able to accomplish and manage today.
BUT: Have you ever thought about what effects this will have on all our daily lives? We are in a phase of epochal change, an upheaval of immense proportions! Most do not even know what consequences automation and new forms of digitization will mean for our world. The progress in microelectronics have made machines and applications possible, which were unimaginable in the past.
This short post should not frighten anyone, nor condemn the progress. Especially in the area of crypto currencies, blockchain and smart contracts, a very positive milestone is developing for human future! But these are decentralized systems, where everyone can participate and create a broad benefit for ALL. By contrast, robotic factories are in very few private hands (major shareholders) whose products and patent rights represent an unbelievable benefit, only to their owners.
(Photo: www.pixabay.com)
In the past, humans were supplemented by machines in their work and they helped to facilitate activities of workers, service workers and service providers (excavators, construction cranes, fork-lift trucks, sorting machines, computer programs, etc.). - Today humans are replaced ruthlessly! By linking artificial intelligence to huge databases, quantum computers, robots, 3D printers, drones, GPS, etc., almost all applications are autonomous. That, in turn, means that your job and in the end yourself will become redundant!
For those that are thinking this only affects the jobs of all the others, they are probably wrong! It doesn´t matter what kind of job you do, programs and machines work faster, more accurately, more reliably, and more efficiently than you could ever work! The machines are far superior in physical and mental strength. If you think you're special, unique and impossible to replace, then you're definitely wrong! While you're reading this and shaking your head, tens of millions of algorithms around the world have only one goal: to do things that people have been doing up until now ... but much, ...much more efficient in every way!
Programs that are developing their own software, learning from mistakes, correcting themselves, improve and perfect. Machine intelligence can provide the correct answer even when it does not fully understand the question. Databases, the cloud and the internet manage and process huge amounts of data in fractions of a second and never forget anything. Self-learning, self-thinking and interconnected systems coupled with powerful mega-robots are just some of the examples that should make it clear that we humans have no chance against the weird potential of the machines. Once valued human capital is subject to a drastic value inflation!
Auxiliary workers and unqualified people are already affected by automation. But also the activities of the higher professional groups, such as bank consultants, financial service providers, engineers, architects, mechanics, lawyers, accountants, tax consultants, clerks and administrative employees, even TV presenters and actors will be successively replaced! As you can see the perfect animated films that are produced without highly paid actors.
The actions of many serial sitcoms and also musical compositions were created by intelligent software. Medical diagnoses with access to all the global expertise of the medicine world, precise surgical procedures on humans, the handling of financial products in nanosecond ranges, self-driving trucks and taxis, ... and, and, and. This list could be continued endlessly! Based on a new study by ING-DiBa Bank, economists have calculated that more than 18 million jobs will be lost in Germany within the next 20 years. This means that every second employee or worker will lose their current job.
At least now, those who had the dream of having their household run by a smart robot in the near future, should return to reality. Such expensive technical achievements and helpers, as for example all-round cleaning robots, only the very least will be able to afford. - Most of the people will fight for their survival!
The big winners of Industry 4.0 are only the robot producers and their financiers, inventors and patentees, as well as the handful of specialists that are needed to build, operate or maintain the machines. - Brave new world!?!!
What do you think? - Am I just a big pessimist, who is inferior to a total miscalculation, or will it end in for so many of us, in hunger games? Does anyone see an alternative scenario in which the masses of people participate in the upcoming development?
Thank you for your interest!
Link to the german version/Link zur deutschen Version:
https://steemit.com/deutsch/@denk-mit/roboter-fluch-fuer-die-menschheit
