Salem Elzway, a postdoctoral fellow at USC, and Jason Resnikoff, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen, delve into the history of automation and its multifaceted impact on labor. They explore the misconceptions surrounding automation, emphasizing the need for collaborative research. The discussion spans the historical significance of labor movements, technological optimism, and the interplay between automation and socio-political dynamics. Additionally, they reflect on the evolving nature of work, the impact of unions, and the challenges posed by modern technological advancements.
The podcast critiques conventional views of automation, highlighting the disconnect between expectations and actual productivity outcomes since the 1970s.
Elzway and Resnikoff advocate for collaborative history research to deepen understanding of automation's socio-political impact on labor dynamics.
The discussion emphasizes the need for modern labor movements to establish boundaries around technology use, contrasting with historical labor agreements.
Deep dives
The Framing of Automation in Historical Context
The podcast delves into the historical framing of automation, highlighting a significant disconnect between technological optimism and actual outcomes. Early discussions from the AI bubble in the mid-2010s projected drastic productivity growth and job losses due to advancements in technology. However, this predicted transformation did not materialize, as productivity gains have been disappointingly low since the 1970s. This raises important questions about the narratives surrounding automation, suggesting a need for a more nuanced historical analysis that goes beyond surface-level hype.
Contemporary Perspectives from Historians
The conversation features two historians who have begun exploring the depths of automation's impact on labor. They reference their collaborative article, which critiques conventional understandings of automation as a mere catalyst for job loss. Instead, they argue for a consideration of automation as a historical subject that reflects deeper socio-political dynamics affecting labor. By engaging with past scholars and their works, these historians aim to redefine how automation is approached in historical discourse.
New Collaborative Approaches in Academia
The podcast emphasizes the potential benefits of collaboration among historians, showcasing how two scholars with overlapping interests can enhance their research. They point out a shift away from competitive attitudes in academia, exemplified by their joint efforts to analyze automation and labor history. This teamwork not only strengthens their arguments but also fosters a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in technological change and its effects on society. Such collaborative efforts could serve as a model for future interdisciplinary research.
Automation and Labor's Place in Society
The discussion pivots to the relationship between automation, labor organizations, and historical labor movements. While automation is often associated with job loss, the historians stress that labor movements historically sought to secure jobs rather than eliminate them. The Treaty of Detroit in 1950 exemplifies this as labor unions negotiated contracts that prioritized job security and wage shares without addressing technological impacts. This focus highlights the need to reassess how labor discourse interacts with technological advancements.
AI's Role in Modern Labor Dynamics
In discussing modern automation, the podcast highlights how the discourse around AI influences contemporary labor dynamics, particularly in the creative industries. The authors reflect on recent labor strikes where unions negotiated rights regarding AI's use, stressing the importance of establishing boundaries for technology in labor settings. This contrasts sharply with historical labor agreements that bypassed technological oversight, emphasizing the need for workers to reclaim some agency in discussions about their work environments. The choices made in these negotiations could shape future relationships between labor and emerging technologies.
The Future of Research on Automation
Looking forward, the podcast concludes with a discussion of research avenues related to automation and its socio-political implications. The historians express a desire to explore further how historical perspectives on automation could inform modern understanding of technological change. They suggest studying the intersection between technology and marginalized labor forces as a significant area for future research. By examining how historical narratives around automation intersect with issues of race and labor, they hope to generate a more comprehensive understanding of these pressing issues.
Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Salem Elzway, postdoctoral fellow in the Society of Fellows in the Humanities at University of Southern California, and Jason Resnikoff, assistant professor of contemporary history at the University of Groningen, about the history of automation. The discussion takes as its launching point an essay Elzway and Resnikoff published in the journal Labor titled, “Whence Automation?: The History (and Possible Futures) of a Concept.” The conversation approaches the history of automation and how to study it from a number of angles, including diving into Elzway’s and Resnikoff’s individual research agendas, as well as discussion of the nature of collaborative work in history, a field that can sometimes be all-too competitive and turf-like.
