1. Explain the positions of Steven Cherry and Henrik Christensen.
Steven Cherry and Henrik Christensen have different positions when it comes to the robot topic. Cherry who interviews Christensen on the influence of robots to the job market strongly believes that robots must have extensive negativity to the job market. On the other hand, Christensen believes that there is no negative influence will be bestowed on the job market with the introduction of robots but there will be an increase for jobs (Vardi, 2013).
2. Why is the Watson computer relevant in the discussion of the articles? What has Watson demonstrated can be done with “non-routine” jobs?
The Watson computer is a representation of the level of technology. It indicates the advances that are being experienced through the new technology and how processes are likely to change following the modern technology. Watson has shown that non-routine jobs can be transformed into routine jobs. This will expose most of the jobs to automation. Technology plays critical role in the influence for automation (Ford, 2013).
3. After reading both articles, what is your opinion about the increasing presence of robots in our society and how this will affect the job market?
The two articles have tackled an extremely critical subject in the modern world of technology. There are various arguments that have been brought up for discussion for a long period of time. However, robots as a form of automated human capital will automatically influence the job market. Robots can handle different tasks at the same time for a long period of time while human beings are limited by their energy. Therefore, in the long run there will be job loss.
4. What does Ford means when he refers to strong AI? How is this relevant to the article?
According to Ford strong AI refers to the extensive influence that will be extended to the world through the artificial intelligence. This is extremely significant to the article as a support of the influence that the author wants to make the reader of the article understand (Vardi, 2013). It equips the author with proper explanation of the influence that robots are likely to cause to the job market.
5. Explain the implications of Amazon’s purchase of Kiva Systems.
The purchase of Kiva systems by Amazon implies that there is great future of artificial intelligence. Amazon is a major player in the online business where it trades various commodities. Its association with Kiva systems which is a renowned manufacturer of robots shows that automation will be replacing human capital in various sectors (Ford, 2013).
6. What is Luddism?
7. What does “AI Winters” mean? What do you think happens during those times?
AI Winters are periods in which research and inventions in the technology sector reduce. During these times, the systems that had been previously invented are analyzed and specialists try to find new avenues for improvements in the systems (Vardi, 2013). These times are breeding periods where people identify new opportunities which drive them for more inventions.
8. How does Ford describe most of type of work done in our time? Are “intelligent” machines good or bad for this kind of work?
According to Ford currently most activities are carried out under automation of various systems. He argues that technology is the driving force of the modern activities. Intelligent machines are extremely good machines for embracing automation, which is a major driving force for modern activities (Ford, 2013).
9. Name two people, mentioned in one of the articles, who believe that machines would never be able to demonstrate a level of intelligence. Be sure that the people you mention clearly believe that machines cannot achieve higher levels of intelligence (Vardi, 2013).
Hubert Dreyfus and John Searle
10. What do David Autor’s findings mean to the middle class?
Middle class needs be cautious enough to position themselves properly in this era where technology is replacing them in the job market (Ford, 2013). Therefore, they need to set up their own strategies through which they will remain relevant in the market despite high levels of technology.
11. What could Machine Learning algorithms do with the internal information (about employees, etc.) that corporations are collecting?
This data could be extremely fundamental to the organization in future. This is based on the reliability of the data during the possible replacement of human beings with robots to carry out certain activities in the organizations. In future, use of artificial intelligence will have grown up in an exhaustive manner.
Works Cited
Ford, Martin . "Could Artificial Intelligence Create an Unemployment Crisis?." Communications of the ACM 56.7 (2013): 37-39. Print.
Vardi, Moshe . "The Great Robotics Debate: Are robots and automation destroying more jobs than they are creating?." Communications of the ACM56.7 (2013): 5. Print.
