Work in the Age of Robots

Are robots finally replacing humans? Does the emerging age of artificial intelligence and automation mean we will soon see "peak jobs" and the need for a Universal Basic Income to support a widening swath of hapless citizens unsuited for employment in a future "knowledge" workforce? Productivity — reducing labor-hours per unit of product or service — has been the hallmark of progress for centuries. But this time we're being told it's different because digital machines will be so good at performing both blue-collar skills and low-knowledge white-collar work. History and the realities of the underlying technologies, however, suggest the opposite. While automation, artificial intelligence and robots will certainly cause disruptions, it will also increase productivity and lead to more jobs.