"There is nothing that makes it impossible for new technology to destroy the demand for the labour of humans …. What's surprising, or what ought to surprise us, is that it hasn't happened yet. Will human versatility always be enough to dodge and weave around all possible changes in technology, forever? I doubt it. Forever is a long time."
“What will become of the horses?” was the cry which went up as the railways came to England. But the horses thrived – the demand for their services to pull goods & passengers to & from the railway stations saw to that. But then came the internal combustion engine, & the doomsayers were proved right after all. And my great grandfather had to find another trade to provide an income for his family - there was not much call for wheel wrights any more.
I do not myself worry about the future for humans. Either we will continue to find ways to make ourselves useful – whatever happened to all those who used to be employed in producing statistics by hand? – or we will not. There is nothing else we can do about it unless you think going into reverse is a better idea.
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