Robots are responsible for unemployment – Magazine Saturday

9:52 • Lusa | PHOTO: Javier Larrea / Getty

In the book, Robots, The Threat of a future without employment, that has just been published in Portugal, Martin Ford warns of the dangers of misuse the applied technology and automation “with speed” unprecedented.

“the starting point of the book is the advancement of technology. the robots include computer programs that will have a great impact in various professional areas including those groups of people more academic, “he told Lusa Martin Ford, in a telephone interview.

the American businessman of software explained that the machines are” stealing “the jobs of citizens and stressed that, in the United States and advanced economies, the biggest” breakthrough “will occur in the service sector.

For Martin Ford, this trend is already evident in areas as the automatic cash withdrawal and automatic cash registers in supermarkets, but, he added, the next decade will witness an explosion of new forms of automation in the service sector, potentially endangering millions of jobs at relatively low wages .

“republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, here in the United States, speaks volumes about the economic situation, when, in fact, people are also being affected by technology. In the United States and the United Kingdom, people do not come to increase their income because of the technology and then blame emigration. In part, it is the technology that is creating unemployment and anxiety states in society, “argued Martin Ford, from Silicon Valley in California.

In addition to services, the author also refers the “robots highly versatile workers” which are used in large scale industrial units, substituting the functions which up to now required the use of workers.

“Let us also, for example unmanned vehicles which are being developed at this time. Millions of jobs could be put at risk if there is the implementation of this type of vehicles. So far, truckers belong to an important professional group. Imagine the impact that unmanned vehicles can result in the transport business, “exemplified.

Ford expressed the belief that the issue will become the medium term a political issue, because” increasingly “the machines will perform more functions to the detriment of workers, with the advent of projects start up in the areas of information technology can further deteriorate the situation.

“For people who want to start businesses, it is clear that s tart ups ‘are a way out, but in fact these, companies do not hire a lot of people and is also clear that the technology begin to develop in a certain place will end up with jobs elsewhere, “lamented the author of the book.

According to Ford’s analysis of the increase in robot control, the creation of new legislation or regulation does not solve the problem because the technological level the restrictions imposed at some point may be permitted elsewhere somewhere in the world, which might make things even more difficult in terms of competitiveness.

“Moreover , you can not stop progress, “he added, suggesting as a possible solution the application of technology in areas of social support or in the health sector and do not affect the labor market.

” If the economy is affected by unemployment no one will have money to spend, as is the case with the financial crisis in Portugal. Things may get worse because of technology, “he said.

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