[rdcbn1]

Automation is coming much faster than many realize. In fact, it's already here for many things such as phone in customer service. Covid labor shortages are driving a lot of the push to automation

It's becoming more cost effective and easier to implement and our political class is making sure that human labor is as inefficient, and expensive as possible - and fraught with liabilities and interpersonal conflicts.

[Rockingham]

My guess is that the jobs that require professional licenses or have a high degree of discretion and liability due to potential harm will always have humans in charge even if assisted by robots and AI.

For example, I have a brother who works in back office operations for a major firm in the financial services industry. He holds a full set of securities licenses and his job routinely involves transactions and tasks for many millions of dollars. He often has to diagnose and remedy complicated issues. I cannot imagine anyone with a problem demanding "Put me through to the AI system."

Similarly, it is hard for me to imagine anyone trusting AI and robots to provide care in a hospital or nursing home without humans exercising close supervision. And I cannot think of a robot lawyer arguing a case to a jury except in comedic terms.

I do look forward though to the day -- soon I hope -- when diligent, dignified, polite, fluent English speaking robots will tend to the crops and landscaping and commercial and household tasks instead of the hordes of illegal immigrants we have now.

[ladyjane]

Automation is already here for medical specialties such as radiology and pathology. Computers are used for screening and problem specimens or images are screened. Random specimens are also examined.