Jobs, Robots & Us: Why the Future of Work in New Zealand is in Our Hands

Description

Could millions of jobs soon be eliminated by artificial intelligence and robots? From driverless cars to digital assistants, it seems the world of work is on the cusp of a technological revolution that is generating hopes and fears alike. But are the robots really knocking at the door? And what does all this mean for New Zealanders? In this far-sighted and lucid book, Kinley Salmon explores the future of work in New Zealand. He interrogates common predictions about a jobless future and explores what might happen to workers in New Zealand as automation becomes more widespread. This book also asks big questions about the power we have to shape technological progress and to influence how robots and artificial intelligence are adopted. It sketches out two bold alternative futures for New Zealand - and suggests what it might take, and what we might risk, to pursue each of them. It is time, Salmon argues, to start debating and choosing the future we want for New Zealand.

Kinley Salmon is a former strategy consultant and has also written for The Economist. He is originally from Nelson and now works as an economist in Washington DC. Salmon holds degrees in Social and Political Sciences and in Economics from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Public Administration in International Development from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

'Scholars forecasting "the future" often forget that there is a multitude of possible futures - and all of them depend upon our choices in the present. Kinley Salmon's masterful book embraces this indeterminacy, debunks the misplaced fatalism about the impending 'robocalypse,' and offers a constructive vision for how to attain a future that we desire. Jobs, Robots & Us is essential reading for policymakers, informed citizens, and anyone who suspects that the future is still ahead of us.' - David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 'The next wave of automation is on the horizon, and it will change the world of work. This timely book considering the likely impact on New Zealand makes the important point that there is nothing inevitable about the changes - there are choices to be made about the kind of society we want, with technology serving us, not the other way round.' - Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge; `Paranoia currently rules our world regarding the impact of technology on our lives, largely due to misinformation and a lack of context. Kinley Salmon provides a much-needed, informed and balanced view of the changes we face, where they have come from, and how they might affect our world both positively and negatively. It really doesn't matter where you currently sit in terms of your perspective on the future of work - and our world in general - Jobs, Robots & Us is a valuable addition to your thinking.' - John Holt, Chairperson, Kiwi Landing Pad