Where are the buggy whip manufacturers? The most famous case is the advent of automated looms in the early 19th century which threw skilled weavers out of work (see Ned Lud.) Workers are always upset when their jobs are eliminated (see Luddites.) Economists point out (as your textbook does) that in every case, jobs that have been eliminated are soon replaced with new jobs, even better jobs. There are also lots of less attractive jobs created as well, but the effect has always been a net increase in economic activity and prosperity. They refer to "the Luddite Fallacy" any time someone worries that new technology will destroy jobs, and so far they've always been right. In his book The Lights in the Tunnel, software developer Martin Ford suggests that this might not always be the case, that automation will soon be so good that human labor might not be needed. Read Chapter 2 -- Acceleration (notes attached)of his book and answer the following questions. 1..Assuming Moore's law continues over the next 20 or 30 years, what can we say about how powerful computer technology will grow? Don't just say "a lot," be quantitative. What might that suggest about the capacity of Artificial Intelligence? Include an explanation of Moore's Law. 2..Most AI researchers acknowledge the development of "Weak AI" (task specific intelligence.) Some AI researchers consider the prospect of "Strong AI" (i.e. a general purpose Artificial Intelligence similar to a human mind) to be unattainable. Others consider that it is very likely that strong AI will appear in the next 20 to 30 years. Does Ford consider it to be necessary to achieve strong AI (human level intelligence) before we have to worry that AIs will take over human jobs? Why or why not? 3..Ford suggests that "offshoring," the big boogieman of the "oughties" (first decade of the 21st Century) is a temporary problem. Why does he say that? Might we be seeing the effect he's suggesting? If the manufacturing returns to the US, what effect might it have on jobs in the US? 4..What sorts of jobs would be the hardest to automate? Are some jobs safe forever? Why or why not? 5..Is the past a good predictor of the future? What is Ford's argument that the Luddite Fallacy may not be a fallacy after all?