AI and the redundant human: Preserving meaning in a reshaped world

Will AI take our jobs? That’s certainly the vision of many leading figures in Silicon Valley, who foresee a transformed world without any need for employment. Long before robots replace police officers, Pilates teachers and plumbers, those in administrative, professional and creative roles are staring at the possibility of redundancy. It’s arguably the first technological transformation in which white-collar workers find themselves in the firing line. What are the consequences economically of increasing numbers of people unable to earn a living? And what will be the social and psychological cost? In this short book, Phil Woodford takes a close look at the trends and suggests six practical steps to address the crisis of redundancy that artificial intelligence may create.