While researchers and tech leaders have predicted that AI will eliminate a significant portion of human jobs, Benanav argues that similar automation forecasts in the past, such as those made about robots in the early 2010s, largely failed to materialize in the predicted manner. Emphasizing the interplay between technological, economic, social, and political factors, this conversation aims to provide a different perspective on how AI might change the nature of work and the potential paths forward, including worker organization and alternative frameworks for technological development. Professor Benanav’s visit is organized by the Digital Humanities Exchange, the Marxist Institute for Research, and the Geographers at UCI Research Cluster, with generous co-sponsorship from the Department of History.
There will be a workshop with Aaron Benanov on the same day from 12:30-2. See flyer for details and QR code to register for the workshop, or use this link: https://forms.gle/iNbTB1C7zToBP9bW9
