New (since 2014) advances in machine intelligence, or artificial intelligence (AI) have been staggeringly remarkable. A bold claim. But consider two of many milestones: A self teaching computer that starts without human training and masters video games in 24 hours. Faster than a person. This is a remarkable demonstration of a "new" ability for machine learning. And the other milestone, beating one of the world's best players at the world's most difficult game to write a computer program to play: GO. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have both car companies and world wide search engine companies racing toward releasing self-driving cars, trucks, and buses on our roads. Uber in Pittsburgh is putting self driving cars on the road now. https://newsroom.uber.com/pittsburgh-self-driving-uber/. Daimler in Nevada has an autonomous truck licensed with the first autonomous vehicle license plate. https://www.daimler.com/innovation/autonomous-driving/freightliner-inspiration-truck.html The Chinese are doing self driving buses first. http://en.yutong.com/pressmedia/yutongnews/2015/2015IBKCFbteUf.html The trick turns out to be "doing an adequate job driving" with inexpensive sensors and computers. If price is no barrier (but it is) the technology is already worked out and here. One of the first rocks to be thrown into our peaceful pond of the past is the goal to replace over-the-road truck drivers with autonomous vehicles. The largest single category of employment in the US is "truck driver" at 2% of everyone employed or 3.5 million people. When they are replaced several other jobs related to them go away: Human Resources? Payroll? Benefits? Autobody repair? But the same general technology, depending upon who's estimates you quote, may do 50% or 90% of a CEO's job better than a human. Add radiologist, lawyer, doctor... both blue collar and white collar jobs, and lots of them, will go from full time to part time or ... gone. Wages will cease to be a viable way to run an economy. An old idea, 200+ years old, that also almost became a current fact under President Richard Nixon when a "basic income" bill passed the House but failed in the Senate because it wasn't enough money, is exactly what we need now: universal unconditional basic income. Basic income is designed to introduce money into the economy through every adult. Provide enough money for housing, food, and education. Medical care should probably be handled separately as single payer. A radical idea to some, the most common concern is that people who don't "work hard" for their money will do nothing, and that that is bad. Several studies have shown that the right amount of money to pay workers other than piece workers (who get paid for each widget) is the amount that "takes money off the table." Pay too much or too little and productivity suffers. Yes, paying too much also impairs productivity. Being secure is the key. So in this election for Missouri's 2nd district, for US House of Representatives, why not elect the candidate who understands what we need to do immediately to be prepared for the tsunami of artificial intelligence coming for us right now? Why not vote for the author, David Justus Arnold, on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016?
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AuthorDavid is a candidate for US House of Representatives, Missouri 2nd district with extensive computer and technology familiarity. ArchivesCategories |