Stock-Boy Bots Are Stealing American Jobs

[Zachstar]

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/maga...robotwarehouse

Robots are stealing American jobs. In a 76,000-square-foot zone of the 832,000-square-foot Zappos warehouse in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, 72 robotic "drive units" organize and deliver shelves of goods—from argyle socks to handbags. People remain in charge (for now), because it takes human dexterity to pack items into a box for shipping. But the bots still have plenty to do, picking up the slack on boring tasks like shifting inventory.

More evidence of an imminent massive switch to robotic workforce. Remember this is 2009 tech and these things are already extremely useful. BEFORE recent advancements in energy storage tech sensor tech AI and other important discoveries.

It's amazing to not see more people discussing ways to deal with the switch. Much more seems to be given towards trying to say it wont happen or wont happen for 50-100 years.

Its happening right now!

[Schroeder]

Such things have been in use for the last 15 years here in Europe. Fully automated warehouses where one of the few employees left only has to pick up the goods after they have been brought to him from the shelves by a bot.

They are way faster than human labour and can use the storage space more efficiently. Whenever you have a storage area with big shelves and tons off different material in them you will find automated systems.

They are already developing systems that will make forklift drivers unnecessary. Automation is on the move big time.
Welcome to the world of "I want to buy cheapest" and "I want to make the maximum profit".

[NeonSamurai]

"Dey teok our juubs!" suddenly springs to mind.

I'm not suprized in the slightest. Heck if they could most corprorations would eliminate as many human workers as possible to make more money (the raison d'etre of a corporation). Course they also tend to fail to reason that if people don't have jobs and money, then they wont be buying the company's crap products.

[August]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

"Dey teok our juubs!" suddenly springs to mind.

I'm not suprized in the slightest. Heck if they could most corprorations would eliminate as many human workers as possible to make more money (the raison d'etre of a corporation). Course they also tend to fail to reason that if people don't have jobs and money, then they wont be buying the company's crap products.

Exactly. For it to work in the long run they'd need to invent a "consumer" robot.

[Letum]

The guilty may fear, but no vengeance he aims
At the honest man's life or Estate
His wrath is entirely confined to wide frames
And to those that old prices abate
These Engines of mischief were sentenced to die
By unanimous vote of the Trade
And Ludd who can all opposition defy
Was the grand Executioner made

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

"Dey teok our juubs!" suddenly springs to mind.

I'm not suprized in the slightest. Heck if they could most corprorations would eliminate as many human workers as possible to make more money (the raison d'etre of a corporation). Course they also tend to fail to reason that if people don't have jobs and money, then they wont be buying the company's crap products.

It is my view that eventually (Like when unemployment reaches 40 percent yet the economy is booming) The corporation or the gov will start a series of discussions on how to keep the balance in effect.

Companies will NEVER agree to give up their robots but I think that in the face of market destruction they MAY agree to a series of new taxes that ONLY go towards market restoration. High taxes yes but fine when you are making a killing with the robots as the taxes would only amount to near what they had in payroll BEFORE the giant growth.

What has to happen with this money? Where else? Youve got to pay people to get an education in fields where there is A) Jobs left and B) We can increase our tech growth as a nation.

The alternative is riots as eventually people will try to make their voices heard through violence if they perceive that the gov is doing NOTHING to help them.

[Schroeder]

Tax the companies and they will just go to 3rd world countries were the robots can do the job (or children who are even cheaper than robots) and they only have to pay minimum taxes.
I think capitalism has to lead to a moving industry. If one part of the world is getting too expensive they move to the next part that is cheaper for them (don't ask me who is then supposed to buy there products but so far this is the technique they are using).

[UnderseaLcpl]

I don't see this as being a bad thing, assuming we don't drive off the firms that make the robots and the parts for them. Or at least the firms that own those firms.
People have been complaining about mechanization stealing jobs since the 19th century, but it never produces fewer jobs than it makes. It streamlines the economy and frees up capital for other areas of development.
Besides, it isn't as if we have a choice. Other nations will eventually take advantage of such advancements, anyway, and our business and economy will lose competitive advantage. If the government needs to be doing anything it is to cut corporate taxes(preferably to zero, consumers pay them anyways) streamline business law, and enact damage caps for lawsuits.