Part 8/11:
If we accept the premise of an automation cliff, the critical next question is: What should we do about it? Traditional solutions like Universal Basic Income (UBI)—coined as a safety net in a world where jobs disappear—have been met with skepticism from Shapiro. He argues that UBI encourages reliance on government support, potentially diminishing individual economic agency and creativity.
While alternative notions abound, not everyone is cut out to thrive in a creative economy. As work dynamics shift, offering constructive pathways that do not merely replace lost work is essential.
Shapiro proposes an innovative framework he calls "post-labor economics," which seeks to redefine our relationship with economic systems in the face of profound changes likely to arise from AI advancements.