Argument Analysis

For My discussion forum, I decided to view the Ted Talk title "The jobs we'll lose to machines -- and the ones we won't" by Anthony Goldbloom. In the video, Anthony describes how machine learning is revolutionizing the traditional way we work. He cites a 2013 study done by Oxford University where the researchers predict that one in every two jobs is at a high risk of being automated by machines.

1.) Right off the back the concept of Ethical Challenges Involving Technology from chapter 11 came to my mind while listening to Anthony citing the risk of machine learning in the workforce.

For example, would it be ethical for a business owner to lay off half of his workforce in favor of new a software program that can do the same job but for half the cost?

Sure profit
margins would increase substantially but at what cost losing former otherwise loyal employees that cannot longer provide for their families? It's a real and scary situation for many in today workforce, especially those working in menial / unskilled labor jobs.

The next concept that stood out to me came from Chapter 6 and it's the idea of Organizational Ethics. How would big corporations such as Walmart integrate machine learning/automatization in their business model would they do it ethically by being transparent with the public and meeting with workers/labor unions to make sure their needs are being meet or would they do it behind closed doors or in a way that would undermine their entire labor force.
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2.) I believe the speaker would agree with these concepts because he showed real concern over the new challenges automation brings to the labor force.
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3.) I agree with some of the speaker's points but I believe some to be misguided / exaggerated a bit.

For example, during the video, he brings up the professions, particularly the medical and legal fields. I believe these industries to be relatively safe from the risk automatization.

For example, doctors can use machine learning as a tool to better treat diseases. When X-ray machines were first introduced you didn't see mass layoffs of Orthopaedists. The reason for this is because it still takes a great deal of intelligence to interpret/act upon the information given.

Now the same can't be said about more menial jobs.

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The speaker has influenced the way I think about this topic because the data/information he has presented has given me the insight to better reflect upon my own future career
path.