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CEI’s Sean Higgins was referenced for his study on AI in an article by the Washington Times.

In one example, the organization cited the 1913 moving assembly line created by industrialist Henry Ford to build his Model T automobiles, which reduced labor needs per car, though U.S. automotive manufacturing jobs rose from 175,000 in 1917 to 1 million in 1979.

“Technology advances like artificial intelligence can breed fear that ’progress’ will destroy jobs and livelihoods,” said Sean Higgins, CEI research fellow in labor studies and author of the report, “Don’t Panic! A Skeptic’s Guide to the AI Jobs Doomsday.”

“History teaches us labor-related technology fears are usually misplaced,” he said. “Innovation has not, historically, caused widespread unemployment in the broader economy. In fact, labor-saving innovations in one industry, like manufacturing, can create new opportunities and jobs in related industries, like service or hospitality.”

The report noted that US unemployment fell slightly (from 5.9% to 5.3%) between 1979 and 1989 despite manufacturing automation and a growing labor force.

Additionally, it described how previous predictions of AI replacing skilled jobs were wrong, including a Nobel-winning scientist’s 2016 prediction that AI would replace radiologists, which never happened, as radiologists remain in demand and are still well-paid.

Read the full article at the Washington Times.