The use of Artificial Intelligence and full-scale automation has become a reality

BY STEVEN KASZAB

Since before the pandemic, labour unions have been less aggressive than previously. Working with public officials and private domains, a sense of cooperation seemed possible and workable. Then the pandemic came upon an unprepared: workforce, business, and industrial sector, whose financial survival seemed the probable task at hand.

For the labour unions and their working-class membership, an often talked about threat became a viable reality, a force that could shrink the labor movement’s importance drastically in terms of employed membership but make the labour movement also into a protest juggernaut. The business sector had to figure out how to accomplish their daily tasks with limited employees, or none at all because of COVID-19.

The use of artificial intelligence and full-scale automation has become a reality. Throughout the world investors threw billions into A.I. systems that can perform tasks once done by human beings. The technology continues to develop, but there is enough there to challenge workers capabilities, and the many factors that make A.I. systems are better than previous systems (according to employers).

Canada’s Unifor President Lana Payne’s support for the US United Auto Workers strike actions claim that pensions, wages and job security remain the top concerns of her membership and the strikers. Are wages, overtime pay and working hours really the main concern, or is job security the true magnet that drives the labour union movement today. Job security infers that it is in peril, and if so by whom? Well, it’s the same in most modern union actions, from the: Docks, L.A. Writers and Actors Guild strikes.

Automotive and multi manufacturing strikes everywhere fear technology replacement capabilities now and in the future. Robotics and automation run by A.I. can replace many millions of workers.

Imagine schools where computer screens project a teacher who has the capabilities to personalize to each individual student a teaching plan as well as psychological mental health advice, and friendship. Teachers look out, Mr. Roboto can replace you too. EV buses and transit electrified and run by technology replacing workers who often complain about hurtful treatment by hooligans. Multi welders conjoined through automation and technology replace manual labour. Harvesting machines in your local farming community replace workers who come from far off locals. All this will demand massive investments, but imagine the costs it will cut for: investors, banks, manufacturing and business sectors?

Lana Payne recognizes that highly integrated operations can become deserts to her membership unless the present-day situation does not change. 18,000 auto workers’ livelihoods stand in the balance, threatened to at first change, transform and then mostly disappear. Labor experts say the UAW is in the driver’s seat for now, but wealthy corporations have the resources and time to plan and activate their new business models, the super vitalization of futuristic manufacturing in every sector of the economy. There will be a 180-degree shift from the corporate meekness today towards a combative attitude, a method of fast tracking a super profiteering mechanism that will change employment everywhere.

What will happen to the billions without work? Build massive early retirement homes perhaps. End the 5–6-day work week to become a 3–4-day work week at first. Send everyone to school, entertain them and perhaps demand they do charity work to preoccupy themselves? Perhaps the corporations of the world will eliminate manual labor completely, paying only a very high wage to maintain the equipment and program their profit generators.

“One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them.” Aldous Huxley

Perhaps the leaders of the labour movement and corporate leaders alike hope workers will believe all the propaganda before them, like A.I. and technology will make your lives easier and better. Do you believe them? Really?