[mystique]

I have been thinking about this for a while now too.

I feel more troubled by the fact that folks in non-AI field don't see this as an imminent problem. They don't realize that with current advances in computing power that enables us to store more and more data cheaply, how much can be learnt from it and how much can be automated.

There don't seem to be any easy solutions. Training/teaching folks new skills would help but will not solve this for every person affected. I suspect the collateral damage from this will be big.

[SCHiM]

There are people who do see this happen. I vaguely remember bill gates saying things about automation encroaching on low-skill jobs, and that many white-collar jobs would not be far behind. [0]

I don't think his solution is viable however, since it would only delay the inevitable. Even if you make humans dirt cheap, the power of computers and all the benefits of automation will still be cheaper, only later.

He extrapolates that our current take on our economy will soon be very outdated and that it needs to be rethought. Perhaps our star-treck economy will not be the result of space-travel, but automation. Imo this is the best possible outcome I can imagine.

[0]: http://bgr.com/2014/03/14/bill-gates-interview-robots/