> It is the input that continuously reconstitutes itself around whatever remains scarce, valuable and socially demanded as productivity rises.
In general, yes. For many groups, no.
It assumes that there is something of value for them to do and as shown by masses of long term unemployed in many areas, that is not always the case.
For example, people on the autism spectrum and with disabilities have persistently high unemployment. Because of various limitations, there is nothing for them to do in many cases. The market should have corrected this (especially over the long term) if reconstitution was consistently possible.
If AI makes all humans seem limited in a similar fashion, the idea of labour reconstitution falls apart.
There is also a large portion of the population on social assistance so while there are things they can do, the market value of what they can do is often well below their needs.
> For example, people on the autism spectrum and with disabilities have persistently high unemployment.
> If AI makes all humans seem limited in a similar fashion, the idea of labour reconstitution falls apart.
I think the problems here is you’re comparing a relative minority to “all humans”. Unfortunately, what affects a minority of society, inherently, has a small effect on society as a whole. If “all humans” now have no employment value because AI or automation can do it all, there will still be a cost to that production. Even if you assume the AI part is $0, the power needed or the raw materials becomes the main cost as opposed to labor. Then you need to have enough demand from those non-working non-wage-earning humans for whatever that AI is producing. Otherwise, what is the point of the production in the first place.
Maybe extreme automation would put the wealth gab on hyper drive. Only those handful who happen to own an automated production company can have any income. However, what do you imagine the final outcome of that would be in a democratic society? Like I know it’s fashionable to cry at the state of democracy, but despite the recent inflation and affordability crisis and income insecurity etc, we don’t have an “all humans” levels of unemployments. What do you think would happen if we automate, and subsequently fire, “all humans”?
Let’s assume AI will actually replace 99% of jobs eventually. Society will completely change at that time to adapt. What else is the point? Are AIs gonna be producing stuff for other AIs leisure?
The problem is that the road to there might be painful before society is forced to change to adapt. It won’t all happen at once so it’ll keep happening in waves and waves will be painful until they get better then another wave again. That’s assuming the prophecy of “all humans” labor is no longer needed.
In general, yes. For many groups, no.
It assumes that there is something of value for them to do and as shown by masses of long term unemployed in many areas, that is not always the case.
For example, people on the autism spectrum and with disabilities have persistently high unemployment. Because of various limitations, there is nothing for them to do in many cases. The market should have corrected this (especially over the long term) if reconstitution was consistently possible.
If AI makes all humans seem limited in a similar fashion, the idea of labour reconstitution falls apart.
There is also a large portion of the population on social assistance so while there are things they can do, the market value of what they can do is often well below their needs.