Humans Need Not Apply

Humans Need Not Apply Robert R. Odle, Ph.D. an aspiring good citizen of the earth

…a new book we must read to be fair ....

Humans Need Not Apply: A Guide to Wealth and Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Hardcover – August 4, 2015

by Jerry Kaplan  (Author)

Summary of Book: After billions of dollars and fifty years of effort, researchers are finally cracking the code on artificial intelligence. As society stands on the cusp of unprecedented change, Jerry Kaplan unpacks the latest advances in robotics, machine learning, and perception powering systems that rival or exceed human capabilities. Driverless cars, robotic helpers, and intelligent agents that promote our interests have the potential to usher in a new age of affluence and leisure — but as Kaplan warns, the transition may be protracted and brutal unless we address the two great scourges of the modern developed world: volatile labor markets and income inequality. He proposes innovative, free-market adjustments to our economic system and social policies to avoid an extended period of social turmoil. His timely and accessible analysis of the promise and perils of artificial intelligence is a must-read for business leaders and policymakers on both sides of the aisle.

Some Scary Stuff in this New Book

1. The rate of automation is accelerating.  The rate of eliminating jobs and making humans obsolete is accelerating.
2. Wealth inequality for the U.S., already one of the worst in the world (comparable to Russia and India) is going to get much worse very quickly (it is already happening).

If a small percentage of your population working with computers and machines can generate more wealth than we have ever known then how do we answer these questions:

1. How is that great wealth to be distributed?
1. Option 1: The owners of the computers/machines and the programmers (the lucky few) are the only one that gets the wealth.
2. Option 2. The owners of the computers/machines and the programmers get almost all of the wealth and everyone else lives in poverty.
3. Option 3.  The owners of the computer/machines and the programmers get most of the wealth and everyone else gets paid for improving themselves (free education, art, training) and working for the common good (peace corps for america, volunteer work, childcare for students/poor people, etc.)
4. Option 4.  The owners of the computer/machines and the programmers get most of the wealth and everyone else gets a stipend.
2. How does everyone else but the lucky few find meaning/value for their lives?
3. If the lucky few get almost all the wealth, do we house all the rest in prisons or just terminate them?

what value guides your opinion