This sounds like good news. I've read lots of negative stories about the working conditions in Amazon warehouses. It would be great if all the jobs could be automated.
I'm sure the people currently doing those jobs must be overjoyed.
Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
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Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#42I'm surprised that Amazon still uses boxes. They have the market power to insist manufacturers comply with amazon-specific packaging requirements. Why not just insist that all products be packaged in postal-compatible packaging? Then the amazon warehouse robot need only slap a label on the product and throw it in the shipping bin. Another answer would be to have products packaged in standard, or at lease square, boxe…
They’ve done this https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=...
Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#43Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.
Of course, and with good reasons. Before you wrote your comment, did you stop to think why people work inside Amazon's warehouses if the working conditions are so oppressive? It's because the alternatives are still worse. And now they'll lose those jobs and have to face those alternatives. Of course those of us who perceive this as an injustice will complain. The complaint is not directed at Amazon only, it's at the…
I think it's worse than oppression. We used to to exploit the working class, now we in many cases aren't even doing that anymore. Instead many people's work is just not needed anymore. No wonder people turn to drugs.
Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#44Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.
Amazon has probably wrangled massive tax discounts with the cities and states their warehouses are located in on the promise of providing jobs.
Get the automation working and the jobs vanish. But I bet those tax breaks don’t. And I bet Amazon will fight tooth and nail against places deciding to revoke them.
Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#45Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#46This sounds like good news. I've read lots of negative stories about the working conditions in Amazon warehouses. It would be great if all the jobs could be automated.
Sure, it's good news, just not for the people you're thinking of. Think about people who work in Amazon warehouses despite those conditions. Why do they do that? Because the alternatives are worse. This just removes these jobs and leaves them to face those alternatives.
Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#47andrew yang 2020. no brainer. Surprised why more candidates are not discussing the automation gorilla in the room.
there are not enough low-skilled, difficult to automate jobs that can sustain the population.
Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
IMO the best "counterargument" here is that those were jobs which paid folks who then paid into their local economy. That goes away with robots and becomes more revenue. Lots of folks are in favor of a "automation tax." I'm not sure how I feel. Note I'm not arguing these points, but merely pointing them out.
The problem is that as we move forward and keep automating this will become a major issue in our society. I'm not sure if I support automation tax but it makes me uneasy. I work at a manufacturing company. We are slowly chipping away at data entry, manual processes. It only improves efficiency now, but eventually we will need less people.
I am in the same boat with my unease of the situation. Entitlements are already putting the US in crippling debt, however, I am worried that automation will destroy so many jobs that we need a universal basic income.
Which I am personally not advocating. I am unsure of how I feel about it.
Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
> It would be great if all the jobs could be automated ... If all the capital could be distributed.
I believe something called 'communism' which addresses that. Snark aside, automating shitty jobs is a Good Thing. Finding new and better jobs for those impacted should be a major political priority. Education is one aspect, but comes too late for those already on the workforce. Places like Japan keep unemployment low by having many low skill jobs, like mall greeters and whatnot. This may be better than unemployment,…
> Places like Japan keep unemployment low by having many low skill jobs, like mall greeters and whatnot. This may be better than unemployment, but is possibly not the best use of human versatilty..
An interesting aspect is that those jobs are low technical skill, but can require good to very good social skills to be done well.
Without joking, greeting an elderly entering a bank and guiding them to the section they needs to go, explain briefly what they need to do, is can be non trivial.