Our current debate about automation isn’t new. It’s been happening for hundreds of years. Today it’s robots, autonomous cars, and AI, 50 years ago it was computers, 150 years ago it was factory machinery, 430 years ago it was knitting machines. Here is a timeline of some notable events.
1589 automated knitting machine: Queen Elizabeth denies William Lee a patent for automated knitting contraption citing fear it would deprive women of ability to make a living.
1771 Richard Arkwright invents first automated spinning mill: This is one of the first examples of a fully automated industrial process.
1811- 1816 Luddite movement: After a long war with Napoleon economic upheaval and unemployment incited protests in Britain. Protesters mobbed factories and broke machines.
1880 – 1920 Electrification: This brought a new source of power to industry and allowed relay logic to develop. Relay logic is the precursor to the programmable logic controller, which was developed in the 1970’s.
1900 evolution of textile industry: Weavers earned twice as much and there were more than 4 times as many as there were 70 years earlier. Some sources point to 10000% employment growth in that field during that period.
1930’s Great Depression: Unemployment and dissatisfaction cause a wave of mechanical skepticism. Technocrats blamed mechanical advancements for high unemployment rates.
1964 Cybernation revolution: Open memorandum sent to President Lyndon B. Johnson warning that machines will cause an increase in productive capacity while increasing unemployment. Service industry is signaled out as a probable candidate for automation.
1984 and 1999: Terminator and Matrix are released into theaters. These popular movies further cement the concept of an AI apocalypse into mainstream culture.
2015 Henn-na hotel opens: One of the first hotels to have robotic staff, even in customer service roles.
2018 Suncor energy starts phased implementation of autonomous haul trucks: First application of automated vehicles in the oilsands industry. Concerns ignite about employment of drivers and affects on Fort McMurray.
Looking at the past should ease our minds about the future but history has no guarantee of repeating itself. Here is a short video explaining why things might be different this time.
