AI agents might be able to automate 80% of certain jobs in a few years but that would make the remaining 20% far more valuable. The challenge is to help people rapidly retrain for new roles.

Humans will continue to have certain desires far outstripping the supply we have for a long time to come.

We still don’t have cures for all diseases, personal robot chefs & maids, and an ideal house for everyone, for example. Not all have the time to socialize as much as they wish with their family and friends.

There will continue to be work for humans as long as humans provide value & deep connections beyond what automation can. The jobs could themselves become more desirable with machines automating the boring and dangerous parts, leaving humans to form deeper connections and be creatively human.

The transition period can be painful. There should be sufficient preparation and support to minimize the suffering.

Workers will need to have access to affordable and effective methods to retrain for new roles that will emerge.

“soft” skills such as empathetic communication and tact could surge in value.

> The jobs could themselves become more desirable with machines automating the boring and dangerous parts

Or, as Cory Doctorow argues, the machines could become tools to extract "efficiency" by helping the employer make their workers lives miserable. An example of this is Amazon and the way it treats its drivers and warehouse workers.