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Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

reuters.com

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Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#31

Post by CodeMage »

fastball wrote: post #2

Something 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 injustice of systemic oppression of the working class.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#32

Post by throwayEngineer »

hannasanarion wrote: post #25
throwayEngineer wrote: post #17

Fantastic, less human labor in one sector means new opportunities in another.

This is a platitude that is said often, but there is no evidence to support it. There is no law of the universe that says whenever a job gets automated, a new type of work pops out of the aether to employ displaced people. It is wishful thinking at best.

Is there evidence to say the contrary?

I imagine instead of Amazon paying 11 dollars an hour, a small business has the opportunity to pay 11 dollars an hour.

Before Amazon's size and HR department sucked up local labor.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#33

Post by gxx »

zdw wrote: post #15

Video of the CarltonWrap mentioned in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1yw05mWnXw It's actually pretty neat - creates boxes to size on demand. Doesn't seem like this would be possible with humans at a store, and could really cut down on box inventory.

If it results in the elimination of oversized boxes it should save on cardboard, also reducing shipping volume. This would be financially and environmentally be a good thing. Maybe they could also include in the box sizing algorithm the optimization of shapes for efficient packing.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#34

Post by Eridrus »

psychometry wrote: post #20
fastball wrote: post #2

Something 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.

Automation isn't the problem. These jobs being lost are terrible and no one should do them. The problem, as always, is capitalism. Amazon wouldn't be where it is today without its massive workforce, including its army of factory workers. None of the people losing their jobs will benefit from this increase in productivity, though. Those gains will go only to the people at the top. Meanwhile, there will be more competi…

The gains will also go to those making the robots and those buying from Amazon.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#35

Post by sandworm101 »

I'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, boxes that could be thrown into larger shipping boxes.

Or do away with the warehouse altogether and have products ship directly from manufacturers. I wonder if anyone has tried that?

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#36

Post by egypturnash »

cle wrote: post #30
liotier wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It would be great if all the jobs could be automated ... If all the capital could be distributed.

What do you think is going to happen with that capital?

Bezos’ pockets.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#37

Post by throwayEngineer »

camochameleon wrote: post #24
throwayEngineer wrote: post #17

Fantastic, less human labor in one sector means new opportunities in another.

Where are the new opportunities here? Does the number of people employed designing and manufacturing these machines come close to the number of people put out of work by their creation? Let's not pretend that Amazon is some benevolent force here. It's the same company that sets work targets high enough to force employees to have to pee in bottles and penalises sick and pregnant workers for taking time off or breaks.…

Yes, now those workers won't have such horrible conditions.

Or at least we are closer.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#38

Post by e40 »

jcora wrote: post #16
fastball wrote: post #2

Something 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.

Do you think they're good working conditions? Also, a pretty large contigent of the left argues for automation.

Also, a pretty large contigent of the left argues for automation.

I am so sick of politicization of everything.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#39

Post by fouronnes3 »

zdw wrote: post #15

Video of the CarltonWrap mentioned in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1yw05mWnXw It's actually pretty neat - creates boxes to size on demand. Doesn't seem like this would be possible with humans at a store, and could really cut down on box inventory.

Absurd how most of the items on the belt are already in a cardboard box. Seems so wasteful.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#40

Post by Tharkun »

liotier wrote: post #19
irrational wrote: post #5

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.

> 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, but is possibly not the best use of human versatilty..

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