The majority of Americans believe that artificial intelligence will replace more jobs than it creates. That fear has given rise to the idea of a universal basic income that would protect people from any AI-caused workforce upheaval.

But sociology professor Katherine Newman of the University of Massachusetts Boston thinks a better approach is retraining workers for jobs that will be relevant in the face of new technology. She explains how workers can best be trained to succeed in an increasingly automated economy.

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Robots have already started moving into Amazon’s workforce alongside people. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

The future of the US workforce will rely on AI, but don’t count human workers out just yet

Katherine Newman, University of Massachusetts Boston

Many Americans fear that AI will take their jobs. And it might – but it's more complicated than that.

Politics + Society

Ethics + Religion

Environment + Energy

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Health + Medicine

  • How forceps permanently changed the way humans are born

    Neel Shah, Harvard Medical School

    Childbirth used to be a terrifying ordeal. But women were surrounded by others – mothers, aunts, sisters – who brought love and experience. But midway through the 19th century, this changed.

Science + Technology

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Today’s quote

"The Turkish government has also taken noteworthy, and in some cases highly unusual, steps to integrate Syrians into the country during the past five years."

 

Syrian refugees in Turkey are there to stay, at least for now

 

Shelley Inglis

University of Dayton

Shelley Inglis
 
 
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