RAB Proposal Paragraph – Said Babaev

My research question: Is automation of the industries helping or creating a doomsday scenario where humans would be a passé shortly? This interests me because I study mechanical engineering, and with technological advancements, new technologies are constantly emerging that can increase efficiency or potentially replace human labor. Finally, it strikes a chord because I have witnessed firsthand how automation leads to layoffs in traditional industries, which applies directly to my family & friends. Will these progressions suit all workers, or will they be helping people in the cold?

Of course, I already knew automation had driven considerable leaps in productivity across the manufacturing and logistics industries. One place where this might make sense is with the decreasing speed and increasing cost of human labor as it becomes slower to cover new ground — robots can now outpace (and error) humans in many sectors. However, with this efficiency comes the concern that there will be fewer jobs for the next generation of workers. Whether or not new technology will create employment of a different genre is debatable, whereas, with the breakneck speed at which AI and automation seem to be advancing, some are terrified that those currently employed in specific job roles may not stand an opportunity once they become redundant.

I hope to explore further the themes of identifying what jobs automation threatens most, how quickly new job creation can keep pace with displacement, and strategies that offer a win-win for innovation and worker protection.

Here is the article from The New York Times that explores how AI is reshaping the workforce and its associated risks.