Restaurants investing in technology instead of paying people higher rates

[peek-a-boo]

@Toll_Collector

While this is most certainly true, not all technology creates as many jobs as they replace. Some are created with the sole purpose of removing the workforce.

But there are many new technologies that do employ many people. We only have to look back 60 or so years to the advent of computers. That industry now employs 10s of millions of people.

[Eagle-Keeper]

@TommyLucchese

@Eagle-Keeper

There are Kerug type devices that can make standard mixed drinks. So the role of a bartender is not completely safe. Nonetheless I do think that most of the jobs being discussed are safe for now.

You persist in the foolish delusion that a bartender’s job is just to hand people alcohol. And it’s not.

All I’m doing is talking about the technology that is currently out there and what potential impact it can have. I’m not making any definitive predictions nor am I claiming that specific jobs will go completely extinct.

[Eagle-Keeper]

@Toll_Collector

While this is most certainly true, not all technology creates as many jobs as they replace. Some are created with the sole purpose of removing the workforce.

Forget self check out lanes, just the scanners at supermarkets cut the workforce in half. A typical day at a supermarket in a populated area would have roughly 15 lanes open until 10PM. That’s around 20 paid cashiers on all day.

In the late 80s AI started doing 70% of my job at New Jersey Bell (now Verizon). That was just a computer program. No one lost their job, but 70% of the department filled in at other locations. They didn’t have to hire new people.

The job I have now. EZ-Pass and other plate reading devices has either eliminated, or vastly reduced the workforce. Those maintaining these new technologies aren’t even close in numbers to the jobs they’ve removed.

Good post! Some will argue that technology has been around for decades now and we have been able to increase the number of jobs in the US over that time. What that argument fails to realize is that growth came with the switch to a Global Economy. There’s only so much internal growth a country can have, which also moves much slower.

In this next phase I completely agree with you. For every 100 jobs technology eliminates we will be lucky to see 10-20 new one’s to take it’s place.

[Toll_Collector]

@Eagle-Keeper

@Toll_Collector

While this is most certainly true, not all technology creates as many jobs as they replace. Some are created with the sole purpose of removing the workforce.

Forget self check out lanes, just the scanners at supermarkets cut the workforce in half. A typical day at a supermarket in a populated area would have roughly 15 lanes open until 10PM. That’s around 20 paid cashiers on all day.

In the late 80s AI started doing 70% of my job at New Jersey Bell (now Verizon). That was just a computer program. No one lost their job, but 70% of the department filled in at other locations. They didn’t have to hire new people.

The job I have now. EZ-Pass and other plate reading devices has either eliminated, or vastly reduced the workforce. Those maintaining these new technologies aren’t even close in numbers to the jobs they’ve removed.

Good post! Some will argue that technology has been around for decades now and we have been able to increase the number of jobs in the US over that time. What that argument fails to realize is that growth came with the switch to a Global Economy. There’s only so much internal growth a country can have, which also moves much slower.

In this next phase I completely agree with you. For every 100 jobs technology eliminates we will be lucky to see 10-20 new one’s to take it’s place.

I agree. But in the end it’s self defeating. Businesses want people to spend their money, but don’t want to pay people in the process. Can we see the problem there? Where I live they can pay tipped servers $2.13 an hour. Is there any logical reason to replace them?

[mbus]

@Eagle-Keeper

@TommyLucchese

@Eagle-Keeper

There are Kerug type devices that can make standard mixed drinks. So the role of a bartender is not completely safe. Nonetheless I do think that most of the jobs being discussed are safe for now.

You persist in the foolish delusion that a bartender’s job is just to hand people alcohol. And it’s not.

All I’m doing is talking about the technology that is currently out there and what potential impact it can have. I’m not making any definitive predictions nor am I claiming that specific jobs will go completely extinct.

In 1961, in grade school, we were made to debate the impact of this sci-fi thing that was coming called computers, and would they replace humans.

Yes, they will and have with no dramatic detriment to the economy. But I am not considering such things as wealth disparity, health care, deteriorating public education and crime, etc., as aspects of the economy. Just the hard indicators: GPI, CPI, etc. Whether the two are connected is for another thread.

Nice to read an OP that isn’t meant to provoke. Thank you.

[coolidge]

How hard is it to flip frozen patties? No skill involved

[zantax]

@TommyLucchese

@Eagle-Keeper

There are Kerug type devices that can make standard mixed drinks. So the role of a bartender is not completely safe. Nonetheless I do think that most of the jobs being discussed are safe for now.

You persist in the foolish delusion that a bartender’s job is just to hand people alcohol. And it’s not.

AI is pretty good at making friends now too.

AI chatbot wants to be your new best friend

[zantax]

@coolidge

How hard is it to flip frozen patties? No skill involved

One of my first jobs, working the grill at the local McDonalds. And yes, it did take skill when it was busy. But they aren’t hard skills for a robot to learn.

[zantax]

Oh look, forums like this and social media may be doomed.

New AI Is Designed to Debate People, and It Could Ruin Social Media

[tnt]

This is all so silly.

Anyone who wants a stable, growing economy, an America where stable homes are the norm, not the exception, which helps everything from education to unwanted pregnancies, should want American workers to earn more than they do right now.

[zantax]

@tnt

This is all so silly.

Anyone who wants a stable, growing economy, an America where stable homes are the norm, not the exception, which helps everything from education to unwanted pregnancies, should want American workers to earn more than they do right now.

Well they are beginning to raise wages but I see an awful lot of very cheap labor crossing the border lately, so that probably won’t last long.

[Eagle-Keeper]

@zantax

Well they are beginning to raise wages but I see an awful lot of very cheap labor crossing the border lately, so that probably won’t last long.

Pay Americans to sit at home and then cry about how we need massive levels of immigration.

[zantax]

@Eagle-Keeper

@zantax

Well they are beginning to raise wages but I see an awful lot of very cheap labor crossing the border lately, so that probably won’t last long.

Pay Americans to sit at home and then cry about how we need massive levels of immigration.

That’s a negotiation, come on man. creepy whisper pay them more.

[TommyLucchese]

@zantax

AI is pretty good at making friends now too.

No it’s not.

[zantax]

@TommyLucchese

@zantax

AI is pretty good at making friends now too.

No it’s not.

Yes it is, watch a kid use Alexa some time.

[Toll_Collector]

@coolidge

How hard is it to flip frozen patties? No skill involved

It still comes down to how easy it is to fill the position for what you’re willing to pay.

Every year a town called Point Pleasant here in NJ hires people to stick and pick garbage from parking lots. What skill does that take? Yet they have to pay 24 dollars an hour because no one would do it.

[janer]

Popular NJ resort town now has “Peanut the Robot” as one of the servers. To be fair, most of the restaurants down the shore are suffering labor shortages - I know a formerly 24 hour diner that is now only open 7 am- 3 PM because they can’t staff the evening and night shifts.

Ocean City restaurant turns to robot waiter for help amid staff shortage

[Munimula1]

Robots are much friendlier to deal with than people. No scheduling, no sick time, no holidays off. My supermarket and Costco have both installed about 20 self serve ‘cashiers’, and they are great- quick, accurate, and easy to use. This has nothing to do with minimum wage.

[Toll_Collector]

Popular resort town? I guess. As long as you don’t want a drink.

[janer]

True - Ocean City, NJ is one of a few towns in NJ that has alcohol sale bans.
And this summer, you are hard-pressed to find a rental, a parking space or a cafe where you don’t have to wait in line. Not only have the crowds exceeded many previous summers (checking license plates is a revelation) but the year-round population, which is rather small saw a significant boost because people would rather live in a friendly, very safe town with good K-12 schools that were open last year than in Philly, North Jersey or NYC.