I guess it will be swings and roundabouts. All the people who lose their jobs because of AI will find plenty of jobs doing manual work assembling transformers and new sources of electricity production,.....or maybe not..........given the advances in robotics that develop alongside A.I.

If the lack of transformers means the growth of AI slows down a bit then perhaps that is no bad thing.

After a brief period of navel contemplation I realise that I must come across as anti-progress. Knowing that, I don't feel inclined to readjust my opinion. I have lived long enough to have gathered a fair bit of evidence to support my anti-ness so since the shoe fits, I shall wear it.

AI? Don't go there. I am still befuddled by people being happy to pay £20 for a bluetooth light bulb so they can switch it on with their phone. With all the promises of AI and robotics humans will evolve beyond needing arms and legs. Obesity and baldness are already advancing steadily and parents no longer feel the need to do much parenting.

I read an article some time ago detailing a new computer data centre being built in the states by one of the big players. Someone like Google, etc. The buildings looked like aircraft assembly factories and covered acres, to be filled with data storage servers and to be powered by a huge solar panel array.  It was to be the first of many.

Why be so negative Nifty .. 

Do many of you store important data 'in the cloud'. I ask the question because 'the cloud' is probably the most euphemistic term used in the digital world. The reality is huge ugly sheds that consume vast amounts of energy built in the most unlikely and 'cost effective' places.

Before we are all controlled by very efficient robots that operate 24/7 that only need an electric charge top-up at regular intervals. There will probably be a brief period of 'Blows Against The Empire' (Jefferson Starship fans will concur).

Some 25 years ago I had a friend in the police and after an enjoyable meal at his place (his wife was a superb cook) he asked me knowing that I had at one time been an active revolutionary socialist how I would have made a revolution. That's simple I said - I wouldn't attack the police or armed forces but with lightning speed and efficiency take out the electric and water supplies and booby trap everything, setting electronic sniper positions in place. It would only take a week for society to collapse, 3 days without water means death. Nowadays I would add - take out the data control centres.

A lot of people have abandoned owning actual media, they stream everything. At the moment the cost is reasonable. The fact that the musicians and music makers get ripped-off far worse than by the old record companies is something most don't care about. I shall digitise my music collection, making 3 copies using SSD storage. The only point about SSD is that it must be kept 'on' permanently to avoid electron loss. I use mini PCs that use very little energy. I intend to use a diesel generator so that in any event I shall always have an electric supply.

I know many find 'believing what the Establishment/Big Brother says' is stress free, comforting even - until the day when they find they have been lied to. When the mugs have all got rid of their physical media, then they will find that streaming charges will go up and up with no alternative.

If you can look at AI with a clear mind, it becomes obvious that the first huge losses of employment will be among the desk jockies. Not far behind will be delivery jobs. Product movement will be far more efficient with robots, working 24/7. Adverse weather, extreme heat or cold - no problem.

One definite positive will be medical ops. performed by AI robotic control. Policing, war, way better control and efficiency with AI robotics. The end game will be a vastly smaller biped population with far more space, freedom and luxury for the controllers, the uber rich.

Eat,drink and be merry - - -