AI and​ the Future of Work: Lessons from the 1980s Automation Wave

The automation of ⁣the 1980s: ‌A Historical Overview

There was a time when large-scale computer-driven automation usurped⁤ a large array of jobs ⁢in the economy. The time was ​the 1970s into 1980s, when computerized machine tools swept in and ⁢took‌ over the jobs of assemblers, parts makers, machinists, lathe operators, and more in industrial settings. This ​wave of automation was driven by⁢ intense global competition that threatened to put many ⁢slower-moving​ manufacturers out of business.