Do you have any predictions about the future? (serious replies only, please)

[burn_baby_burn]

Gary wins the Whack Pack Death Pool.

[bluejays]

My prediction is that within 5 years there will be major movements towards curbing robotics and other technologies that are quickly replacing jobs, not to help people necessarily, but to help companies' bottom lines. Economies move because of spending, and if many of the working class' jobs are being replaced by software to do their jobs, there is a huge ripple effect not only in less spending, but higher crime. My prediction is that there will be a huge government entity created to audit companies who use too much automation when they should be hiring a certain number of people.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by fleury

My prediction is that within 5 years there will be major movements towards curbing robotics and other technologies that are quickly replacing jobs, not to help people necessarily, but to help companies' bottom lines. Economies move because of spending, and if many of the working class' jobs are being replaced by software to do their jobs, there is a huge ripple effect not only in less spending, but higher crime. My prediction is that there will be a huge government entity created to audit companies who use too much automation when they should be hiring a certain number of people.

I would predict the opposite, the blue collar factor jobs will become a thing of the past with small workforces put in place to monitor the robots and maintain them.

A whole generation of older workers who know nothing but assembly line work will be shuffled out to practice and the only cars made with human intervention for example will be ones marketed and priced specifically that way.

The growing industry for younger workers will be either retail or warehouse distribution.

Our finance ministers prediction of transient jobs for the new generation will come true.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I would predict the opposite, the blue collar factor jobs will become a thing of the past with small workforces put in place to monitor the robots and maintain them.

A whole generation of older workers who know nothing but assembly line work will be shuffled out to practice and the only cars made with human intervention for example will be ones marketed and priced specifically that way.

The growing industry for younger workers will be either retail or warehouse distribution.

Our finance ministers prediction of transient jobs for the new generation will come true.

This part I'm not sure about. Systems designers are getting good at not having anyone monitor things at all. If there's some type of error, a maintenance person is notified. But the argument is that that robot can do 10 people's jobs. There's really only so many white collar jobs to do around, and what happens to those who don't have the mental skills? I think it's relatively scary.

There's a good read out there on the simple introduction of the automated car and the downstream effects on the numbers of jobs potentially lost. Scary stuff.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by fleury

There's a good read out there on the simple introduction of the automated car and the downstream effects on the numbers of jobs potentially lost. Scary stuff.

No need to worry. I have already predicted that this is never going to happen.

Though it would be more likely that you could outsource your driving to somebody in India with a VR display of your car and surroundings.. that would be some massive job creation if virtual chauffeur became a reality. Just imagine, telecommuting to your job as a chauffeur.

[Magnum PEI]

The whole Northern Hemisphere will get effed up beyond repair eventually. I'm moving to Tasmania as soon as it's feasible.

[wontondestruction]

[chemgear]

Double digit unemployment in Alberta.

[dissentowner]

I think by 2030 intelligent robot spouses will become a huge thing. It has already begun with Real Dolls but this will be on a much higher level. People will be able to get the person of their dreams basically. I actually think this would be a good thing because it helps out in so many areas, population control, not having them consume food or other basic needs, etc.....

[MoneyGuy]

The IIHF does away with the shoot out as a playoff tie breaker.

[Jason14h]

Serious predictions only Moneyguy

[Zarley]

Kevin O'Leary becomes our next prime minister.