second-machine-age

The chapter introduces two interlinked crises shaping the 21st century: ecological catastrophe driven by climate change and the rapid automation of labor through advances in robotics and artificial intelligence. It outlines the dual anxieties of scarcity from environmental degradation and abundance from technological automation, emphasizing the unprecedented potential for labor displacement across various sectors. The author surveys current debates and examples of automation's reach, from IBM's Watson to robotic agriculture, setting the stage for exploring possible futures shaped by these dynamics.

Chapter 6 of 'Inventing the Future' outlines a vision for a post-work society centered on fully automating the economy to liberate humanity from drudgery and reduce work. It argues for non-reformist reforms that are utopian yet grounded in current technological trends, emphasizing the acceleration of automation as a political project to break beyond neoliberalism. The chapter traces historical and contemporary shifts in labor markets due to automation and highlights the transformative potential and challenges of the latest wave of algorithmic and robotic technologies.

Chapter 13 introduces the historical context of human progress, emphasizing the transformative impact of technology, particularly the Industrial Revolution powered by the steam engine, which dramatically accelerated social development and population growth. It frames the current era as the 'second machine age,' where digital technologies are revolutionizing mental power analogous to how steam power revolutionized physical power, setting the stage for profound societal changes. The authors reflect on their journey to understand these technological advances through research and direct engagement with innovators, concluding that while digital technologies have reached a new level of capability, they remain immature and evolving.