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Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

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Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#3
I doubt protests will be prompted by automation explicitly. Take Britain as an example, it used to be the largest manufacturer in the world [1]. Now less than 13% of its economy is based on manufacturing.

This hasn't cause massive protests at the level I think your proposing. The question therefore is if automation is likely to have knock-on effects, resulting in widespread poverty. This might well result in popular unrest.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_in_the_United_...

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#4
The modern luddite movement is already here.

A few days ago I was unable to get an Uber out of Hyderabad airport because of a "strike". "Strike" might be the euphemism of the year - it refers to angry taxi drivers/autowales striking Uber drivers who continue to drive.

This is not an isolated experience, many other countries (Columbia, France, Brazil) have the same problem with violent angry mobs trying to shut down automated competition. Politicians mostly side with the luddites; here in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (racist party of Maharashtra, for those unfamiliar) is strongly opposed to Uber. French politicians similarly surrendered to the terrorists.

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#5
Yes, but if we continue down our current path, they will not be directed at automation itself. Instead, advanced propaganda and bot networks will organize discontent against whichever targets allow the protesters to feel temporarily empowered, but that pose no actual threat to entrenched powers. The Russians are far further down this road than the US. Go read about how Surkov simultaneously creates Neo-Nazi movements, gives money to anti-Putin protestors, and props up the Russian Orthodox Church.

https://www.amazon.com/Nothing-True-Everything-Possible-Surr...

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#6
Stephen Hawking made a great point last year when he wrote that automation/robots aren't the problem, capitalism is the problem.

Most of the world takes for granted a system that allocates resources and the results of production in a way that encourages the highest profits with the least costs. Since humans are the highest cost, they are the biggest target for automation.

We have a golden opportunity to create a better, more equitable way of living now and in the future. Let's not let this moment go to waste.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5616c20ce4b0dbb8000d9f15

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#7

The modern luddite movement is already here. A few days ago I was unable to get an Uber out of Hyderabad airport because of a "strike". "Strike" might be the euphemism of the year - it refers to angry taxi drivers/autowales striking Uber drivers who continue to drive. This is not an isolated experience, many other countries (Columbia, France, Brazil) have the same problem with violent angry mobs trying to shut down a…

>A few days ago I was unable to get an Uber out of Hyderabad airport because of a "strike". "Strike" might be the euphemism of the year - it refers to angry taxi drivers/autowales striking Uber drivers who continue to drive.

Nope. The Uber and Ola drivers are themselves striking against the two companies.

"The drivers have also demanded that no new cabs be licensed until existing drivers are guaranteed a minimum of daily bookings.

"The managements should give us at least 12 guaranteed bookings during peak hours for the first five years of each cab,” the association said in an earlier statement."" [0]

[0] http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ground-report-hyderabad...

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#8
No, automation is not new anymore and unions are declining. Besides, domestic appliances and cellphones changed the way people look at machines and technology.

It is easier to demonize immigrants and globalization. That is already the main target of anger.

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#9

No, automation is not new anymore and unions are declining. Besides, domestic appliances and cellphones changed the way people look at machines and technology. It is easier to demonize immigrants and globalization. That is already the main target of anger.

If you demonize globalization, the result is local automated recycling and production. Thus this actually increases as in decentralizes automation.

Re: Ask HN: Will automation generate social massive protests?

#10
I think that it will not generate violent movements. In my opinion there is not nowadays an scene for a huge protest in the developed countries, so if there are protest, as long as they will be pacific, is very difficult that they will have repercussion. In the case, the demonstrations will be huge, they could induce new social movements and parties in the governments of the developed countries fighting for some political ideas to change the automation. .
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