But what if ultra-powerful ai develops super-humanoid robots, too? Material needs would almost certainly be met by machine hands. One might then expect humanity to give up on toil, much like in \u201cWall-E\u201d. Indeed, in 1930 John Maynard Keynes, another economist, penned an essay entitled \u201cEconomic Possibilities for our Grandchildren\u201d, in which he speculated that a century in the future people would work for less than 15 hours a week. The growth generated by technology would solve the \u201ceconomic problem\u201d, he predicted, and allow people to turn their attention to activities which are intrinsically pleasurable. Admittedly, Keynes\u2019s 15-hour work week has not arrived\u2014but higher levels of wealth, which reduce the benefit of working an additional hour, have cut working hours. The average number of hours worked a week in the rich world has fallen from around 60 in the late 20th century to under 40 today.<\/p>\n
There are, nevertheless, some wants that perhaps only humans can satisfy even in a world of supercharged, embodied ai. It is also worth noting that what is intrinsically pleasurable may include work. Consider three areas where humans may still have a role: work that is blurred with play, play itself and work where humans retain some kind of an advantage.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Could an AI become your boss? Using economic principles, we predict what might happen if (or when) the technology becomes more capable than the most talented humans https:\/\/t.co\/XaASCZMvBO<\/a><\/p>\n — The Economist (@TheEconomist) May 24, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n