This week we're gonna talk about the cheerful topic of whether we expect to have jobs and/or any sense of fulfillment and purpose from those jobs, in the near future.

Readings

Why I'm not worried about AI job loss by David Oks
Why I'm worried about AI job loss by claywren
What Other Lines of Work are Safe from AI Automation? by RogerDearnaley (it's a question post, so consider skimming through the comments)
AI Could Actually Help Rebuild the Middle Class by David Autor
[Video] How to Respond to the Automation of Research by Hsin-Yuan Huang (and discussion from audience members)
Reaping without sowing by Tobias Osborne

Discussion

Historically when jobs are lost, the ones that replace them are further on the knowledge work spectrum. Do you think this will happen again, or will they be closer to manual labour?
Do you think there are any jobs that are truly safe from automation? Are those jobs desirable ones?
AI has the ability to extend expertise to more workers; could this rebuild the middle class and actually reduce inequality? Or will the gains be concentrated in the upper class?
Overall productivity will rise with automation; do you think it could rise so much that it offsets the potential negative effects of societal destabilization and increasing inequality?
How do you feel about the use of AI in doing science? Do you agree with Tobias that AI is unable to theory-build? Do you think this will continue to remain true?
Even if math and science can be fully automated, do you think we should, or would, automate it?
How often do you use AI at your job? Are you using it only to do boring unpleasant parts of your job, or parts that you considered fun and meaningful?
Do you think your job can be fully done by AI at some point? Even if your entire job isn't done by AI, do you think the fun parts would be?
How do you feel about your own career path at this juncture? Would you have chosen a different one, if you had predicted current advances?

Location

Meet at Holland Village MRT Exit B (underground part) at 3 pm. We will wait for everyone to gather for 5-10 mins, and then head over to my nearby apartment. If you've been here before, feel free to come directly to the apartment (though you may need to wait to be let in).

Some snacks will be provided. There are many restaurants and a hawker centre nearby, if you want to buy your own food.