21st Century Luddites

There’s always been push-back by workers against widescale industrial automation and optimisation, dating back to the introduction of the looms, via the Luddites and the saboteurs to the more recent objection by dockers to containerisation and the current suspicion that "AI will take our jobs”.

In fact, history has proved again and again that only through the introduction of such technologies can certain industries survive and thrive. The fact that a luddite is now defined as “a person opposed to new technology or ways of working” and used as an insult suggests that it’s those who embrace the new ways who emerge as the victors, whilst those opposing progress are lost in annals of history.

So when I hear “AI will take our jobs”, I tend more to believe that if you don’t embrace the opportunities that AI offers, your job will be taken by someone who does.

Peter MacLeod ???? , Editor [email protected]

Recent Issues

This Newsletter is with thanks to: Tritax Symmetry, Ancra Systems, Ocado Intelligent Automation, EnerSys, Manhattan Associates, ROYPOW Lithium, Sentric Safety Group, Aptean, Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks and Panasonic Connect .