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  • Rise of the Robots

  • Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future
  • By: Martin Ford
  • Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
  • Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (110 ratings)

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Rise of the Robots

By: Martin Ford
Narrated by: Jeff Cummings
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award 2015.

In a world of self-driving cars and big data, smart algorithms and Siri, we know that artificial intelligence is getting smarter every day. Though all these nifty devices and programs might make our lives easier, they're also well on their way to making "good" jobs obsolete. A computer winning Jeopardy might seem like a trivial, if impressive, feat, but the same technology is making paralegals redundant as it undertakes electronic discovery and is soon to do the same for radiologists. And that, no doubt, will only be the beginning.

In Silicon Valley the phrase disruptive technology is tossed around on a casual basis. No one doubts that technology has the power to devastate entire industries and upend various sectors of the job market. But Rise of the Robots asks a bigger question: can accelerating technology disrupt our entire economic system to the point where a fundamental restructuring is required? Companies like Facebook and YouTube may need only a handful of employees to achieve enormous valuations, but what will be the fate of those of us not lucky or smart enough to have gotten into the great shift from human labor to computation?

Rise of the Robots is a both an exploration of this new technology and a call to arms to address its implications. Written by a successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur, this is an audiobook that cannot be dismissed as the ranting of a Luddite or an outsider. Ford has seen the future, and he knows that for some of us, the rise of the robots will be very frightening indeed.

©2015 Martin Ford (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Alarming...surreal...it is time to be afraid, very afraid.... For the moment there is no hope that the rise of the robots will not be accompanied by the fall of the humans." ( Sunday Times Culture)
"The elephant in the room of artificial intelligence is mass obsolescence of the human workforce it threatens to supplant. Ford stares the elephant in the face." ( Observer)
"Packed with irresistible gee-whizz facts but...also anxious about what might happen next, especially to human employment...well worth reading." ( Guardian)

What listeners say about Rise of the Robots

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Needs more musk

Anyone who has a desire to secure a safe and prosperous society for future generations, should read this book. Sadly, those who need to read it most, likely won’t.

9.5/10 no mention of Elon Musk. Still do recommend though.

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Comprehensive review in robot influence

A book that deal with the issue n not just telling you the thrill or threat of robot's upcoming. A very good book with solid research and analysis. Recommend to everyone who concern about the future of our society.

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An interesting exploration

An interesting exploration of the challenges coming for society as we find ways to make production labor-efficient. I would have preferred that the proposed social solutions had been spread through out rather than clustered at the end. It made the approach seem unnecessarily bleak. However it was an enjoyable and insightful read.

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AI is coming

An enjoyable book with some good anecdotes and trends. I particular liked the sections on the future ramifications and the proposals to address them

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easily the best book on the subject

an incredible analysis of recent history of mechanization and automation and a very erudite analysis on the likely future.

A must read for anyone who wants a educated view on what the future looks like.

It is both very enlightening and very troubling at the same time. Read it then act!

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Highly recommend.

Great stats. Engaging presentation. Comprehensive overview employing economics, social considerations and technological advancements. 15 word minimum limit.

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Good book, great narration

Good book with a lot of things to think, about the future. Jeff Cummings narrated this book excellently.

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interesting view on the future

overall this book flowed well and was engaging. he has an interesting view on the future which makes for a great audio book.

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Not really interesting.

the book mostly states what most of us already know. machine take job from people and people keep paying their studies a fortune to get a chance to don t be replaced too early.
too mamy numbers about the students loans and success rates that are not relevant and boring.

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