The Future of Work audiobook cover - Robots, AI, and Automation

The Future of Work

Robots, AI, and Automation

Darrell M. West

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EconomicsTechnology & the Future

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The Future of Work
The Digital Economy Megachange+
Rethinking Work & Identity+
Economic & Social Reforms+
Political Obstacles & Solutions+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to the text, the upcoming 'megachange' in the United States refers to the transition between which two types of economies?
  • A. From a service economy to an information economy
  • B. From an agrarian economy to an industrial economy
  • C. From an industrial economy to a digital economy
  • D. From a manufacturing economy to a gig economy
Question 2 of 8
What is a major ethical concern regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in areas like law enforcement, as highlighted in the book?
  • A. AI systems are too expensive for local governments to maintain.
  • B. AI predictions lack total objectivity because they are influenced by data quality and designer biases.
  • C. AI is prone to frequent technical failures that lead to wrongful arrests.
  • D. AI systems violate citizens' privacy by monitoring personal internet usage without consent.
Question 3 of 8
How is the Internet of Things (IoT) expected to significantly improve city infrastructure?
  • A. By replacing all human public works employees with robotic laborers.
  • B. By utilizing 5G sensors to monitor resources in real time, such as detecting leaky water pipes.
  • C. By providing free internet access to all citizens to boost the local economy.
  • D. By automatically generating funding for public projects through cryptocurrency mining.
Question 4 of 8
According to MIT economist Andrew McAfee and the author, how should society adapt to the massive displacement of traditional jobs by automation?
  • A. By legally limiting the number of robots a corporation can employ.
  • B. By broadening the definition of paid work to include volunteer activities, parenting, and art.
  • C. By requiring all displaced workers to train as software engineers or robot technicians.
  • D. By forcing companies to pay a 'robot tax' that directly funds the traditional welfare system.
Question 5 of 8
Why do economists suggest creating 'citizen accounts' for the future workforce?
  • A. To track citizens' carbon footprints and limit their energy usage.
  • B. To ensure that workers have portable safety net benefits like health insurance, regardless of their employment status.
  • C. To replace traditional banking systems with a government-controlled digital currency.
  • D. To monitor gig economy workers and ensure they are paying appropriate federal taxes.
Question 6 of 8
How does the author suggest our approach to education needs to change in the new digital economy?
  • A. Society must recognize education as a lifelong endeavor rather than something that stops around age 25.
  • B. Education should focus exclusively on STEM fields to prepare students for AI development.
  • C. Universities should be entirely replaced by on-the-job training provided by tech corporations.
  • D. Primary education should be shortened so young people can enter the workforce earlier.
Question 7 of 8
According to the text, what is a primary flaw in the Trump administration's approach to the changing workforce?
  • A. It relies too heavily on universal basic income rather than creating new jobs.
  • B. It blames job losses on bad trade agreements and lost manufacturing, ignoring the broader threat of automation.
  • C. It focuses exclusively on regulating Artificial Intelligence rather than retraining blue-collar workers.
  • D. It attempts to ban automated technologies in industries like transportation and retail.
Question 8 of 8
What political reform does the author argue is necessary to reduce inequality and prepare the nation for the new economy?
  • A. Implementing term limits for Supreme Court Justices.
  • B. Privatizing social programs to make them more efficient.
  • C. Enacting campaign finance reform and ending the electoral college to strengthen democracy.
  • D. Transitioning to a purely direct democracy where citizens vote on all legislation via smartphones.

The Future of Work — Full Chapter Overview

The Future of Work Summary & Overview

The Future of Work (2018) offers keen insights about what to expect when automation and artificial intelligence change the face of the global workforce. Author Darrell M. West gathers a wealth of expert opinions to provide a thorough look at the challenges we’ll face when the industrial economy is replaced by a digital one.

Who Should Listen to The Future of Work?

  • Students of politics and social sciences
  • Workers concerned about future employment
  • Readers interested in economics

About the Author: Darrell M. West

Darrell M. West works for the Brookings Institute as vice president of the Governance Studies program. His previous books include Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust (2014) and Megachange: Economic Disruption, Political Upheaval, and Social Strife in the 21st Century (2016).

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