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MIT economist David Autor has predicted a future “Mad Max” scenario as the once-paid-generating skills become cheaper and income inequality grows.
MIT economist David Autor predicted that AI would make most skills cheaper. (News18 Hindi)
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has fueled global concerns over potential unemployment. But MIT economist David Autor predicts another future in which unemployment may not be an issue, but receiving a salary is not so satisfying.
Autor predicted that the rise of AI could trigger a “Mad Max” scenario. There, the once wage-generating skills were commercialized at a low price, and most workers fight for most of what they can get, while the rich have integrated most of their power.
“The more likely scenario to me looks like Mad Max: Fury Road, where everyone competes for some remaining resources that are not controlled by the warriors somewhere,” he said in a “possible” podcast hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reed Hoffman.
Autor was referring to the dystopian film “Mad Max: Fury Road.” This is an apocalyptic film that controls a helpless population, yet lacking resources. The economists said AI can focus wealth and power on the top, but most workers can fight to fight what remains.
What happens to workers?
“The threats pose by rapid automation – the degree to which it poses as a threat – are no longer worth it because it creates valuable skills that people have so much more,” he said.
He also pointed out that several roles, such as touch typists, factory technicians, taxi drivers (who are well-paid jobs), have been downgraded or replaced by technology. He said that people are not unemployed, but do not require much training and provide minimal wages for jobs in low-paid services such as food service, cleaning and security.
“Automation can increase your job expertise by eliminating support tasks and allowing you to focus on what you really are good at,” he said. “Or you can remove the work by automating the parts of the experts and leaving something like the last miles.”
This follows a Salesforce survey from May, and is projected to relocate 23% of workers over the next two years due to a rapid rise in AI. Even those in their current roles are expected to see major changes in their work responsibilities.
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Autor called for efforts to design AI to support workers to avoid a future in which technology is increasing inequality. He said the best place to start is focusing on AI that can do the best things, such as health care and education.
“Healthcare and Education – two activities with 20% GDP in the US and actually a lot of public funding – this is where there is a great opportunity for AI to be a tool that can be useful to us in ways that are not other tools,” he said.
Aveek Banerjee is the senior sub-editor of News18. With a Masters in Global Studies based in Noida, Aveek has over three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specializing in international issues relating to geopolitics and global conflict. He has covered numerous international and national events in the reputable press.
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Washington, DC, United States (USA)
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