[ravi-delia]

Waiters are already automated? Clerks? I wrote that with particular people I know in mind- they aren't paid less because their jobs have been automated. Are there solutions which don't involve more automation? Sure! But not only are those solutions compatible with automation, they're sort of besides the point I was pushing against.

You said that specifically automation would be bad even if it provided total material abundance. It's not there yet, and I suspect it'll be a while before it is, but if we grant its possibility boredom is just absolutely not enough of a reason to prevent it. There are lots of dangers on the road there, but the only cost you mentioned (and I replied to) was that we'd be "playing with cheats". Video games are one thing- in real life losing has a cost and if cheating prevents that there's no excuse not to.

[InspiredIdiot]

Parent didn't say they are "paid less because their jobs have been automated." Parent said "they have to work two jobs because just one doesn't pay enough when a company can automate it cheaper." I interpret that to mean "their jobs could be automated for less than the cost of supporting them on the pay from a single job, so they need to take two jobs at less pay per job to stay below the cost of automation."

There are already many industries, including service industries, where there would be more employment if automation were a little cheaper and less automation if wages were a little lower. And sometimes it is a blend of automation and telepresence. https://gizmodo.com/want-to-order-food-from-a-minimally-paid...

There are other forces pushing the other way, especially in the past few years with various COVID-related disruptions in the labor market. But long-term the effects of automation on pay for low-skilled jobs is pretty clear. Only so many get to move up the value chain and yes they likely benefit. The rest are cut mercilessly.