Workshop: Work, Labor, and AutomationNew York NY, Jan 23, 2017Slides: http://slideshare.net/LaBlogga

Bitcoin and Automation Economy

Melanie SwanPhilosophy & Economic TheoryNew School University, NY NY

m@melanieswan.com

Technological UnemploymentTransition to the Automation Economy and Robo-human Futures

Part of a Series on the Philosophy of Economic Theorycryptophilosophy

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy 2

Melanie Swan Philosophy and Economic Theory, New School

University, New York NY Founder, Institute for Blockchain Studies Singularity University Instructor; Institute for Ethics and

Emerging Technology Affiliate Scholar; EDGE Essayist; FQXi Advisor

Traditional Markets BackgroundEconomic Theory

Leadership

New Economies research grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/NewEconomies

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

No

3

Yes Not sure

From Book chapter:Swan, M. "Automation Economy: An Abundance Philosophy of Economics" In Surviving the Machine Economy. Eds. Hughes, LaGrandeur, Palgrave Macmillan. 2017.

Do you want a robot to take your job?

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Thesis

4

Technological Unemployment (jobs outsourced to technology) is coming…

…the challenge is to steward an orderly and beneficial transition to the Automation Economy of more intense human-technology collaboration

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Technological Unemployment Definition: jobs outsourced to technology

Estimate: Half (47%) of employment is at risk of automation in the next two decades – Carl Frey, Oxford, 2015

Global driverless-car market $42 billion by 2025 – BCG, 2015 Transportation = 10% GDP – US DOT, 2002

Why are there still so many jobs in a world that could be automating more quickly? – David Autor, MIT, 2015

5Source: Swan, M. "Is Technological Unemployment Real?” In Surviving the Machine Age: Intelligent Technology and the Transformation of Human Work. James Hughes and Kevin LaGrandeur, Eds., Palgrave Macmillan, Forthcoming 2017.

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Technological Unemployment is coming

Good news or bad news?

6Source: http://www.robotandhwang.com/attorneys/

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Technological Unemployment The real issue is human identity crisis in a world of technology

Lower-level problem (non-trivial but solvable): Assumption that it is bad news (robots taking jobs), when the

very promise of technology is delivering an easier life Paternalistic worry about what individuals will do with

additional free time (“idle hands”) Income inequality, ownership of means of production, GBI

7GBI: Guaranteed Basic Income allowance for all; blockchain-based; Source: Swan, M. (2015). Blockchain: Blueprint for a New Economy, http://www.amazon.com/Bitcoin-Blueprint-New-World-Currency/dp/1491920491

Harder challenge: human identity crisis Defining our identity as a function of labor

tasks and lower-level cognitive output We do not know who we are because we

have not had the luxury to consider who we can be in realizing our full potential as human beings

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Who are we? Human identity crisis

8

Maslow’s (original) hierarchy of needs

Survive(reach baseline)

Thrive(extend baseline)

Source: Swan, M. (2017). Cognitive Easing: Human Identity Crisis in a World of Technology, http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/Swan20170107.

So…we don’t know who we are, and we are out of a job So far, we have had to focus more on the lower levels of

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs for surviving instead of envisioning what thriving would look like

?

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Step 1: Reconceive Life

9

Work Leisure

Community

Sports, exercise

Creativity

Learning

Music Art

Spirituality

Groups, clubs

Source: Swan, M. (2016). Abundance Economics. http://www.slideshare.net/lablogga/abundance-economics

Productive engagement of human faculties (via job 2.0 or other)

Health

TeachingRelaxation

Fun

Life 1.0

Meta: life design, feedback loop

Life 2.0

Job of the future: life coach becomes

life designer

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Step 2: Call to +Psychology Entrepreneurs Design experiences for human needs

Prediction: more activities in model of “Toastmasters” and “World of Warcraft” Structured path for mastery Toastmasters: regular, interactive, learning

community of competition, support, fun Video games: immediate gratification,

positive reinforcement, progress, competition, team-work, rewards

10Source: PERMA, Seligman, M., U Penn, https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/perma-model/

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Step 3: Shift to Abundance Economics

11Source: Swan, M. "Automation Economy: An Abundance Philosophy of Economics" In Emerging Technology and Unemployment. Palgrave Macmillan. Forthcoming.

Emphasize the production and consumption of intangible social goods in addition to material goods Trust, recognition, freedom, belonging, acknowledgement

A

B

C

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Step 4: Reframe power & status to >sum-zero Decrease in violence, but power and status are still not

sum-zero (they are won at the expense of another) Effect: Sum-zero power and status result in income inequality

and worsening quality of life attributes (crime, health, trust) Power: reframe to “power with” not “power over”

Efficient group coordination models (convergent facilitation) Status: reframe to need for recognition, mattering,

acknowledgement; internal locus of determinacy

12Source: http://futurememes.blogspot.com/2015/07/antidote-to-holocracy-blockchain-smart.html

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Step 5: Vision for robo-human flourishing

13

Survive(reach baseline)

Human-Robot Relation

Thrive(extend baseline)

2.0: Interdependence and mutual care-taking, inspiration, and support

“Yes-and Bot”

1.0: Master-slave power dynamic

The most rewarding human-robot relationships will be those that evolve from master-slave power dynamics to those with reciprocity, mutual recognition, interdependence, learning, and care-taking

Effects: robots help produce intangible social goods and solve human Identity crisis by facilitating higher Maslow levels

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy 14

Robo-human Futures

Jan 23, 2017Automation Economy

Thesis

15

Technological Unemployment (jobs outsourced to technology) is coming…

…the challenge is to steward an orderly and beneficial transition to the Automation Economy of more intense human-technology collaboration

Workshop: Work, Labor, and AutomationNew York NY, Jan 23, 2017Slides: http://slideshare.net/LaBlogga

Bitcoin and Automation Economy

Melanie SwanPhilosophy & Economic TheoryNew School University, NY NY

m@melanieswan.com

Technological UnemploymentTransition to the Automation Economy and Robo-human Futures

Part of a Series on the Philosophy of Economic Theorycryptophilosophy

Thank You! Questions?

Acknowledgement for providing Review Comments: Ming Fu, U Pennt