Task Force: Artificial Intelligence Replacing Jobs

Congratulations!

You have discovered a time machine that has allowed you to fast forward to the year 2060… but uh oh! You have been given the responsibility of figuring out how the new AI advancements can contribute to the workforce without replacing jobs. You are in charge of allocating certain jobs to AI robots, while also brainstorming ways they can help increase jobs. 

Why Are We Doing This?:

There are certainly both advantages and disadvantages of AI in the workplace. Artificial Intelligence is predicted to replace and to create jobs in the next 5-10 years. Now it’s your turn to allocate AI robots for certain jobs and see how they can help humans create new job opportunities to replace those jobs. 

Steps:

1. Try to figure out a plan that balances humans and robots in the workforce. Your goal is to increase productivity without causing major increases in unemployment. In fact, you should strive for finding a way to increase employment opportunities.
   1. What kinds of robots do you think there will be in the year 2060? 
   2. What are some features and characteristics they will have? 
2. Brainstorm specific guidelines for your plan. 
   1. Which jobs should AI robots replace humans with? 
   2. Which jobs should continue to be run by humans? 
   3. How do you plan to compensate for the jobs lost? 
   4. What are some ways AI robots and humans can work together to increase productivity without causing major unemployment?
3. Think through the possible objections that someone could have and how you would answer them.
   1. Are there certain jobs that you are allocating to robots that someone might be opposed to? How do you plan to defend your decision?
4. Share with the group and see if you can convince them that your plan will allow the United States to implement AI robots in the workforce while also creating various new job opportunities.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• You do not have to come up with an exhaustive list of procedures for your plan. It’s better to come up with a few requirements that you feel confident with and spend time thinking through possible objections to it.
• You don’t have to worry about answering all possible objections, but you should have some defense of why you think your reasons are more important.
• Your requirements should be things that governments could “realistically” implement (in the year 2060).