alt Hacker News> For rideshare drivers, delivery workers, housekeepers
These jobs are in the process of being automated, in this order. Any effective effort to curb harassment of these workers is likely to add friction or expense that accelerates automation. Given that it's difficult to know what is the best policy for these people. Is it progress to have fewer such jobs with better working conditions?
Replies
gherkinnn • today at 3:33 PM
What timelines are we talking about?
If you try hard enough, these jobs "are in the process of being automated" since the invention of the train and washing machine.
➕ show 1 reply
randycupertino • today at 3:39 PM
[dead]
Only in a heavily contrived, limited context (city with a grid-based layout) will these jobs be replaced. I do gig work deliveries in the mountains of Tennessee and driving down 5% grade switchbacks and across streams isn't something I see automation handling any time soon, if ever (you can barely get a signal to confirm delivery 30-40% of the time).
Humans need to accept that other humans aren't just parts you can swap. It's not hard to treat others decently, it's just that now everyone expects technology and other systems to arbitrate human interaction to the point where decorum is basically non-existent. More automation isn't the answer, less is (if we're going to survive as a species).