As wealth inequality continues to exponentially grow in the U.S. and around the world, there is increasing disappointment and anger with the current capitalist system that serves to further separate the rich from the poor. In a world where money reigns king and capitalism is a system designed around greed, there is increasing demand for a different economic system that will help every human being equally. I believe the change that will completely alter the capitalist system we live in today is the automation revolution. Humans have always relied on the advent of new technology to solve problems. The advancement of robots and artificial intelligence (A.I.) are the next revolutionary steps in human civilization. As robots and A.I. take over human jobs, there will be many who will be displaced and without a source of income to survive. Eventually, A.I. technology will advance so far that robots will be capable of doing any and every job humans were once capable of doing themselves. Perhaps all of this will occur by 2060. Now this might seem like a grim picture, but there is always light on the other side of the tunnel. People will need to develop a system that grants every person their basic necessities (perhaps universal basic income). In this new system where people do not have to work just to survive, everyone will have increased free time to do whatever they want. Without having to work some random job they have no interest in just to earn a living, some may partake in artistic endeavors such as writing, drawing, creating music, making films, etc. Some may simply sit at home and watch television or play video games all day. Some may participate in other recreational activities such as sports, camping, hiking, sight-seeing, traveling, hanging out with friends, etc. Some may spend their lives devoted to learning and satisfying their intellectual curiosity. In short, in a world where A.I. does all the work, humans are freed from the shackles of capitalism and can do whatever their minds desire.

The rise of automation and A.I. inspired me to write this piece.

Image: Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0) - Christophe Becker