A Conference on Humans, Machines and the Future of Work

该项目支持将在德克萨斯州休斯顿的赖斯大学举行的“人类，机器和工作的未来”会议。会议将重点关注信息技术对未来25年劳动力市场的影响所产生的问题，解决以下问题：未来25年人工智能，机器人和自动化的进展预计如何？这些进步将对就业创造、就业破坏和劳动力市场的工资产生什么影响？未来的就业市场需要哪些技能？教育如何为工人进入就业市场做好准备？需要进行哪些教育改革？需要什么样的经济和社会政策来融合那些技能不符合未来劳动力市场需求的人？在这样的环境中，如何保持和增加社会流动性？会议将有16位来自学术界、工业界和领先智库的知名演讲者和小组成员，他们在技术、经济、社会科学和人文科学方面具有专业知识。本次会议的目的是为了使今后的工作成为学术研究的课题和公共政策讨论的课题，在多学科之间展开对话。目前对信息技术革命的认识与70年代对全球变暖的认识有些相似。事实在一定程度上是确定的。 计算机正在淘汰一些涉及制造业、文书工作和其他中等技能职业的结构性任务的工作。 与此同时，计算机在许多其他职业中创造了新的就业机会，特别是对技术熟练的人来说。除了这些事实之外，还有一个广泛的猜测。 关于信息技术革命对就业和工资的净影响，人们知之甚少。同样重要的是，人们对革命进行的速度知之甚少。 要想减少这种不确定性，需要计算机科学家、经济学家、社会学家、心理学家和其他人的共同努力。解决这些问题是一项重要的国家挑战。

This project supports a conference on "Humans, Machines, and the Future of Work" to be held at Rice University, in Houston, TX. The conference will focus on issues created by the impact of information technology on labor markets over the next 25 years, addressing questions such as: What advances in artificial intelligence, robotics and automation are expected over the next 25 years? What will be the impact of these advances on job creation, job destruction, and wages in the labor market? What skills are required for the job market of the future? How can education prepare workers for that job market? What educational changes are needed? What economic and social policies are required to integrate people whose skills do not match the needs of future labor markets? How can social mobility in such an environment be preserved and increased? The conference will feature 16 renowned speakers and panelists from academia, industry and leading think tanks with expertise in technology, economics, social sciences, and the humanities. The goal of the conference is to start a conversation between many academic disciplines on the future of work in order to make this topic a subject of ongoing academic inquiry, as well as a subject of public policy discussion.The current understanding of the Information Technology Revolution is somewhat similar to the 1970s' understanding of global warming. Facts are known with some level of certainty. Computers are eliminating some jobs involving structured tasks in manufacturing, clerical work, and some other mid-skill occupations. At the same time, computers are creating new jobs in many other occupations, particularly for technically skilled people. Beyond these facts lies a broad landscape of speculation. Not much is known about the Information Technology Revolution's net effect on employment and wages. Equally important, not much is known about the speed at which the revolution is proceeding. To the extent this uncertainty can be reduced, it will require a joint effort by computer scientists, economists, sociologists, psychologists, and others. Addressing these issues is an important national challenge.