The Automated Economy: A Future of Scarcity for the Many, Abundance for the Few?

The prospect of a future where advanced technologies like AGI, robotics, and even quantum computing or fusion power become readily available and inexpensive commodities prompts a critical look at the potential economic and societal shifts.

Many foresee a significant disruption to the labor market. A prevalent view suggests a dramatic increase in unemployment, with estimates indicating as much as 80% of the working population potentially displaced by automation. This scenario could lead to widespread poverty, with large segments of humanity struggling to survive in what some describe as "shanty towns." The remaining portion of the workforce might find themselves in essential but highly underpaid roles within core industries like mining and farming, competing fiercely for limited positions.

A Highly Stratified Society

This vision often implies a highly stratified society:

• A Small Elite: Benefiting from the abundance of automated labor and resources.
• A Service Class: A small contingent of human workers catering to the desires and needs of this elite, including roles like craftsmen, chefs, and personal attendants. The suggestion of hairdressing as a "future-proof" profession exemplifies this, highlighting the enduring human need for social interaction and trusted confidantes, even in a highly automated world.
• The Displaced Majority: Left with minimal opportunities, navigating a subsistence existence.

This challenging outlook draws parallels to dystopian narratives, evoking images reminiscent of cyberpunk worlds, Isaac Asimov's "Necromancer" series, or the grim realities depicted in "Soylent Green." While the exact technologies considered most impactful vary—with some suggesting fusion/solar energy as a more pivotal factor than quantum computing for societal transformation—the consensus points towards profound, and potentially difficult, changes to the global economic structure and human experience.