215 - Guest: John Danaher, Law Professor in AI Ethics, part 1
Jul 29, 2024
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John Danaher, a senior lecturer in law at the University of Galway and author of 'Automation and Utopia,' dives into the future of work and AI's ethical implications. He discusses how automation might lead to job displacement yet offers a nuanced view on job satisfaction. Danaher explores the historical relationship between work and leisure, critiquing current studies on automation's effects on various jobs. He also addresses the role of academia amid these changes, highlighting its importance in knowledge stewardship as AI reshapes education and employment.
The potential automation of jobs raises concerns about job security while questioning the validity of predictive methodologies used in studies.
Automation may redefine job satisfaction by eliminating mundane tasks, yet it risks removing activities that provide individuals with personal fulfillment.
Deep dives
The Impact of AI on Employment
Automation and artificial intelligence are anticipated to significantly reshape the landscape of employment. The discussions highlight the ongoing debate about how many jobs may become automated and the methodologies behind studies predicting this shift. A notable example is the Oxford study, which suggested that 47% of jobs are at risk of automation, igniting widespread concern among workers about job security. However, the validity of these studies is questioned, as their methodologies often oversimplify the complexities of job tasks and economic realities.
Job Satisfaction in an Automated World
Job satisfaction is intricately linked to both economic necessity and personal fulfillment. Many individuals primarily work to earn a living, and once their basic needs are met, they seek jobs that provide meaning and satisfaction. Recent data suggests that global job satisfaction levels are alarmingly low, with only about 20% of workers feeling enthusiastic about their roles. This trend raises questions about the potential for automation to enhance job satisfaction by eliminating mundane tasks, though it may also lead to the automation of the very activities that provide individuals with a sense of worth.
Challenges within Academia
The role of academia in addressing issues related to automation and AI has come under scrutiny. While there is recognition of valuable research being conducted on AI ethics, the potential disconnect between academia and practical societal applications is evident. Increasing administrative pressures and the rise of management cultures in universities have raised concerns about how academic institutions adapt to the challenges posed by technological advancements. Additionally, the recent generative AI developments threaten traditional educational assessments, prompting universities to rethink their approaches to evaluating student performance.
Historical Perspectives on Work and Technology
Historical perspectives shed light on the ongoing relationship between technology and work. Throughout history, advancements in technology have often led to increased workloads rather than a reduction in work hours, contrary to early predictions by economists like Keynes. The evolution from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural and industrial economies illustrates how technology has fundamentally altered work patterns and leisure activities. Ongoing challenges in workplace expectations and job demands underscore the complexity of predicting how future technologies, including AI, will reshape our understanding of work and leisure.
Is work heading for utopia? My guest today is John Danaher, senior lecturer in law at the University of Galway and author of the 2019 book, Automation and Utopia: Human Flourishing in a World without Work, which is an amazingly broad discourse on the future of work ranging from today’s immediate issues to the different kinds of utopia – or dystopia, depending on your viewpoint – ultimately possible when automation becomes capable of replicating everything that humans do.
John has published over 40 papers on topics including the risks of advanced AI, the meaning of life in the future of work, the ethics of human enhancement, the intersection of law and neuroscience, the utility of brain-based lie detection, and the philosophy of religion. He is co-editor of Robot Sex: Social And Ethical Implications from MIT Press, and his work has appeared in The Guardian, Aeon, and The Philosopher’s Magazine.
In the first part of the interview we talk about how much jobs may be automated and the methodology behind studies of that, the impact of automation on job satisfaction, what’s happening in academia, and much more.
All this plus our usual look at today's AI headlines.