Part 5/11:
This shift could lead to a post-labor economy where millions of workers lose their primary means of economic influence, including the capacity to strike or negotiate for better wages. Historical precedents, like the 3-day sanitation worker strike in New York, highlight what is possible when labor rights are threatened. In a future dominated by AI, such actions might be effortlessly overridden with robotic replacements, and governments may respond with oppressive or indifferent measures—if they respond at all.
The potential collapse of consumer demand could severely destabilize economies worldwide, as those with limited property rights or capital—most workers—become increasingly disenfranchised.