People waiting in line at a job fair in New York, USA – April 26, 2013. Photo: rblfmr / Shutterstock.com
The fourth industrial revolution (or Industry 4.0) is upon us. From artificial intelligence to cultured meats to 3D printing, new innovations appear to be on the verge of ushering in a world of both stunning material abundance and human leisure. Such is the forecast of the World Economic Forum, which welcomes this impending technological transformation as an “opportunity … to create an inclusive, human-centered future.”
Yet beneath this positive gloss lies a deep anxiety that Industry 4.0 will actually result in a dystopic future of massive technological unemployment. Celebrity entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Elon Musk “wring their hands over the negative consequences that artificial intelligence and automation could have for workers,” while a diverse array of public figures, from the former World Bank chief to European trade union leaders, have warned of the dire