Friday, August 5, 2016
Are Computers Taking Our Jobs?
While watching the news this morning I was immediately reminded of the issue "Does Alphago Mean Artificial Intelligence is The Real Deal" from Room for Debate. In the article it was mentioned how computers are currently advancing, and some stated that it will not result in computers taking our jobs. However after watching the news today I realized that they were wrong. McDonadls in places such as New York and Missouri have already began to take out the personal aspect of talking to a person while you order your food by making it all electronic. Instead of going up to a person and saying what you want you go up to a screen and do it instead. However I must admit that I am not completely against it, because it sounds easy and they will also be adding things such as custom burgers and refillable fries. On the other hand it makes me think how many people will loose their jobs.
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Oh, how quickly technology develops. I believe that, yes, computers will eventually take over the jobs that humans currently occupy. There are two reasons that I can think of as to why this would happen. The first is that it would make it much more convenient. Every now and then, your waiter or order-taker will mess up your order--forgetting to list down your curly fries, or accidentally adding a side of shrimp. However, a computer won't mess up as a human does. Secondly, it is much more cost efficient to create a machine and power it, rather than having to hire a human at ten dollars per hour. The cost difference is simply too great. Now, it's not cheap to implement computers into a fast food restaurant, but it is clearly much better in the long run. Overall, it would be much better to create a program than to hire a human as it would be much more convenient and cost-efficient.
ReplyDeleteComputers have a strong potential to displace some jobs, particularly minimum wage jobs. However, the AlphaGo system and technologies that may work off of its systems are limited by the inability to develop a creative solution to a problem. Computers can only work within a specific set of rules. A human can develop new and innovative solutions to problems and think "outside the box." Although some people may have to find a new job, ultimately, computers and robots will not unemploy as many people as we are fearing. It is still important though to make sure that there are other jobs to do for those who need them.
ReplyDeleteA while back a read a book called Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wislon and it was truly terrifying. It took place in a dystopian society where humans worked with robots in everyday life. These robots held a variety of jobs from garbage disposal jobs to complex ones. The rest of the story was of a war between humans and the robots who rose up due to their intelligence that was able to overrun the restraints placed on them. And it makes me believe at times that we are one step closer to this dystopian future, as more jobs are being given to computers over humans.
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