[stevenlangbroek]

What you're describing is akin to Jevon's paradox. Let's see. The Industrial Revolution, I think a good analogy, caused years of death & suffering before raising standards of living, and even then only so because of mass organizing & uprising.

[emmelaich]

That's disputed. Progress was uneven and lagged a little, but by many standards (height, mortality) quality of life increased for many from the start of the industrial revolution.

[wavemode]

I don't think most software engineers have to worry about dying of industrial accidents and black lung...

Long hours? Sure, but that's not new (or universal), and AI definitely didn't cause it.

[stevenlangbroek]

That's not what I mean. You can't just retrain and get a job in a new field and maintain your mortgage, rent or your kid or partner's needs, and downward social mobility is incredibly painful (think personal bankruptcies, pretty grim mental health outcomes).