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The Rent Hypothesis

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Re: The Rent Hypothesis

#6
This is a very important topic as robotics and automation begin their exponential curve of running our lives. Who will own the robots? Will the majority of humanity be enslaved to rent-seekers who own patents on a robot hinge?

Re: The Rent Hypothesis

#7

This is a very important topic as robotics and automation begin their exponential curve of running our lives. Who will own the robots? Will the majority of humanity be enslaved to rent-seekers who own patents on a robot hinge?

> Will the majority of humanity be enslaved to rent-seekers who own patents on a robot hinge?

If current trends continue, it will be the capitalist who first commercialized the robot once public and private R&D had done all the heavy lifting.

Re: The Rent Hypothesis

#8
post #7

This is a very important topic as robotics and automation begin their exponential curve of running our lives. Who will own the robots? Will the majority of humanity be enslaved to rent-seekers who own patents on a robot hinge?

> Will the majority of humanity be enslaved to rent-seekers who own patents on a robot hinge? If current trends continue, it will be the capitalist who first commercialized the robot once public and private R&D had done all the heavy lifting.

No robot is 100% self sufficient.

There will always be a need for skilled labor to maintain and update robots. Even the most magical electric self-driving car requires maintenance in the form of software updates, tire rotations and the like.

I think we are entering a period of "super industrialization", where even fewer workers are needed to do greater amounts of work. Careful care needs to go into making sure we don't enter the age of "robber barons" again, but I think a careful review of history and thoughtful policy decisions can guide us into this new era.

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