Understanding Automation

How nice it would be to automate every little boring job that we currently now have?

You might think that your administrative office work could be completed within one or two hours with a basic understanding of a computer programming language¹. Or you could be a sewer hunter² of our modern times, wishfully thinking, “When do we finally invent a machine that can complete the job, instead of me going down the drain?” Unless it’s something you enjoy doing. In which case, more power to you!

Automation of jobs are key to a more fulfilling life, especially those that threat the worker’s safety and well-being. It has the potential to free people from their regular miseries. Imagine all the things one could do after regaining some of the time that was previously allocated for “work”. More people would then look into other avenues of creating value.

Is it even possible?

There’s a lot to unpack here, and I might not be able to discuss them all. Here are a few thoughts.

To be Sick and Tired

For blue collar jobs: doing something for one-third of a day is exhausting, physically and mentally.

For white collar jobs: pretending to be doing something for one-third of a day is exhausting, physically and mentally.

For every other job in between: one or a combo of the above two.

By the end of shift when you’re really tired, it’s hard to be in a mental space to do other hobbies.

Capitalism pushes us to work until we drop dead, because it doesn’t want us to do other things that have no profit motive. It destroys freedom.

Since automation would allow the working class more freedom, it is heavily regulated by the ruling class.

High-tech dystopia?

Automation of everything requires an access to a certain level of technology. The consensus as of writing is to develop artificial intelligence and/or machine learning (AI/ML). Engineers and scientists have been exploring fields which AI integration would vastly improve the quality of work.

But, as with all technology, its capabilities are a function of the biases of those that develop them. Like how dictionaries can be racist.³⁴ Or like how facial recognition software can be racist. ⁵⁶

Moreover, the idea that machines are more efficient in doing tasks than humans is important to acknowledge here. We must remember that while the Industrial Revolution (arguably) increased productivity by employment of machines, it has also allowed efficient and effective destruction of our natural environment which, in my opinion, offsets the benefits gained.

Consider this: The future of automation will likely depend on the development of AI/ML. AI/ML relies on the processing prowess of computers which rely on their hardware. Electronics rely on mining industry, supply chain logistics, and oil industry, all of which harms the environment on a global scale.

There may be healthy compromise to be made among Effectivity, Efficiency, and Environmentalism. Our focus, then, should be in figuring that one out soon. Besides, everything neither can be or has to be fully automated.

What is possible?

For now, we have to recognize that we cannot automate every boring task there is, not even at the rate which our technology upgrades. In fact, at the current rate, we can’t still rely machines (as of this writing) to make all the important and, dare I say, humane decisions.

Suggestions for doing the Dirty Work

In the meantime, we need to consider several things when doing work that nobody wants to do:

1. If nobody does it, and nothing happens when it doesn’t get done, it probably didn’t need to be done in the first place.
2. If the outcome does need to be achieved, we might look at alternative methods of achieving that end. For example, if nobody wants to clean the clogged estero, then we should be mindful of our domestic waste and stop throwing them in the estero!
3. If a certain task is the only way of achieving that end, then we should look at why it’s unenjoyable, and how we might make it more bearable. We might also look at how it can be broken up into more bearable chunks. Still maintaining the clogged estero as an example, it’s understandable why attempting to clean it can be unpleasant. Organizing the community to participate in a clean-up drive helps distribute the work load. To prevent fatigue, such clean-up drive would only last between three to six hours, scheduled regularly (say, thrice a week). Other members of the community could also provide free food for the cleaners as an incentive.
4. If nobody still wants to do it, it has to be done, there’s no other available options, and it’s as optimized and bearable as we can make it, whoever is able probably just takes turns. TNU