"My Robotic Boss Fired Me Today," She Said - Future Case Study

It is my contention that in the future there will be andirectors and executive management to decide who
artificially intelligent supercomputer running most largegets a pink slip, and who doesn't.
corporations, and they will use a business digitalIn fact, I bet these super computers will be sending
nervous system very similar to what Bill Gatespeople notices that they may laid off in the future in
described in his book "Business at the Speed ofthe event that the probability reaches 50%, just so
Thought." That is to say that the central computer willthey can stay within the law, and make drastic cuts in
be hooked up in real-time to every cash register,payroll at exactly the appropriate time. Someday in the
every inventory computer, the company's accountingfuture your friend might tell you; "My Robotic Boss
system, and it will know where its sales are comingFired Me Today!"
from, the profit made in each area, as well as theAs impersonal as this might sound, you can expect this
losses.will occur in the future, but you can also expect that
Indeed it will constantly make decisions which are bestthose companies which are being run by
for the company's bottom line, future quarterly profits,supercomputers will be run extremely well, and they
and shareholder's equity. Since this roboticwill make better decisions in advance, and therefore,
supercomputer will not be programmed with humanthey may over time lay-off less people, and end up
emotions, it will do what it must do to remainhiring more people. In other words, you might be much
ultra-efficient and to make a profit. This means, that inhappier working for a robotic artificially intelligent
the future you won't have to worry about Chainsawcomputer boss, rather than a mere human mortal boss
Al, or a downsizing consultant hired by the board oflike you work for now. Please consider all this.