So here we are somewhere along the line of the beginning of the AI revolution. Are we ready? Both yes and no. Subconsciously I think the next generations are ready. I thought it was such a bad thing, the younger generations not being willing to work hard like us “oldies”. The thing is they need to know what to do with so much leisure time because the way things are looking there will be plenty of time. Time to relax, enjoy the pleasure of fanciful pursuits. Whether that be tramping, sports artistic endeavours, even playing video games and just relaxing. I envy them. My body is tired. It’s taken a lot of abuse over the years, suffered prolonged extreme cold, and heat. Worked until my joints are damaged, exposure to all sorts of dangerous chemicals (even nerve gas once). I live in constant pain from all it has endured, but it’s not time for it to give up yet. No rest yet although it will be welcomed when its time.
This change will not be without its difficulties. There will be a lot of hardship before the world comes up with a solution to the mass unemployment and loss of wages that are coming. I have no solution there, I’m guessing some form of basic universal income, but how will they afford it if there’s no one to pay taxes. I’m glad I am not the one who has to work that one out although I have a few ideas. Maybe AI will figure it out for us.
I go into McDonalds ( I know, a place none of us likes to admit we go) And I see all the people working behind the counter, I wonder if they know that in 5 years time half their jobs won’t exist, or in 10 years time none of their jobs will exist. I wonder if McDonalds realizes in 20 years time McDonalds won’t exist. Everything will be so automated places like that will be pointless. Lets think forward. Imagine wanting a burger in 20 years time. We tell our home we are hungry and want a burger. The automated system pulls out the ingredients and cooks it. The system sees we are low on tomatoes so it orders some more. The order tracks to a distribution centre. Who dispatches the order to be sent to your home via drone who then delivers it, your systems will know what it is and store it accordingly.
Lets go back even further. An automated market garden predicts a need for tomatoes. A robot takes some seed, prepares a garden bed, sows the seed, and keeps it watered and weeded, come harvest time it harvests the fruit and mulches the plants when the crop is finished. The robot hands it to a packing machine that then sends it to the aforementioned distribution centre.
The food is going to go from seed to your table with zero human interaction. Maybe we won’t even bother using industrial farming. The robot can run the production in your back yard for you.
I know people are saying they won’t allow it to happen, but it will. Because price will drive it. If that home made burger grown by humans costs you $8 or the robot one costs $1 what will people buy?
