Stephen Hawking Says We Should Really Be Scared Of Capitalism, Not Robots
Machines won’t bring about the economic robot apocalypse — but greedy humans will, according to physicist Stephen Hawking.
In a Reddit Ask Me Anything session on Thursday, the scientist predicted that economic inequality will skyrocket as more jobs become automated and the rich owners of machines refuse to share their fast-proliferating wealth.
Essentially, machine owners will become the bourgeoisie of a new era, in which the corporations they own won’t provide jobs to actual human workers.
As it is, the chasm between the super rich and the rest is growing. For starters, capital — such as stocks or property — accrues value at a much faster rate than the actual economy grows, according to the French economist Thomas Piketty. The wealth of the rich multiplies faster than wages increase, and the working class can never even catch up.
One thing though: Wouldn't that just mean economic collapse, when noone has a job and thus cannot buy these cansumed goods?
Easton Rodriguez
Anyone with half a brain knows that if things continue as they are, the next 60 years will be hell on earth.
Automation will bring massive unemployment levels.
Global multinational corporations will effectively grab all power from the state.
China and India will outsource the west.
Climate change will destroy millions of lives.
Biotechnology will be used to further the divide between the rich and poor creating new underclasses.
Resource wars will bring more misery to places with rare earth minerals / oil / drinkable water.
Multicultural societies will experience social tension due to uncontrolled migration furthered by the economic destitution of the third world, and the desire by capitalists for greater profits.
The stakes today are higher than ever before.
Joseph Sanders
I sometimes come to the conclusion that capitalism is a system under which everyone can criticize it because nobody is actually willing to change their way of living - due to being able to pursue their interests economically: for example its critique itself is a hot commodity on the market. Even less so are people willing enter into a war against it, that would be too scaaary and chaotic. In fact, the more people criticize it the better for capitalism since it turns any critique into meaningless folklore.
Yes, but then we will get universal basic income to keep us economically active (and distracted) as consumers.
Anthony Rivera
Can I get a non HuffPo source?
Asher Morales
HE KEEPS WARNING THEM AND THEY DON'T LISTEN
Henry Myers
Got you covered fam. OP should feel ashamed of himself posting a link to that shit hole. archive.is/qLeNg
Liam Walker
TECHNOCRATIC SOCIALISM WHEN
Adrian Mitchell
what does this faggot know he's only one of the most intelligent minds ever born
Yeah it's the usual right wing crap. I love how some of them refer to technocracy is authoritarian while supporting fascist and nationalist groups. Technocracy inc is great. Their tutorial videos are why I'm a leftist today.
Julian Sanchez
i have been feeling more and more that Marxism is going to be needed much sooner then any Marxist may be ready for
Andrew Ward
...
Jordan Parker
/jeffbezos/ general?
Hunter Peterson
Why do you think that everyone that is rich won't decide to "share" it when the world becomes full of robotic workers? That actually would mean stopping some things like innovation, but whatever, let's ignore it. Are you saying there are not very left and yet rich people? If you were rich would you not share the robots? Are you saying that everyone that is turbo left is a poor loser?
