Watch Out for Robotics and AI

When my kids were younger, I urged them to aim for careers that would require them to use their minds, rather than their hands.  If something can be done by a robot,” I explained, “It ultimately will be done by a robot.”

At the time, I was thinking about a machine that does what we see here, i.e., making French fries.

As time passed since those days, however, it’s became obvious that functions that formerly required the sharpest of minds are not immune from threat of mechanization at all.  Dentists are still drilling teeth, urologists are still performing prostatectomies, and radiologists are still reading X-rays, but could that even possibly be the case in 50 years?

Not only will robotics be replacing professionals who are bringing home $300K per year, but the machines will actually do a better job.

It could be argued that a “human touch” will always be superior to computer-driven systems. Certainly parenting, and perhaps sales, teaching, financial advice, and justice.  Let’s hope so.