Philosophy of money, job, and society

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32777.30566

Abstract-Here, we discuss how money was made, what the philosophy was, and how we can update the age-old philosophy of money to make society safer, with both financial with food backups and peace of mind. We know workloads would decrease as we don’t want profits in a few hands only, so work hours must be fixed for a fuller life, extra work would not be paid the same unless you need to work as part of an emergency. We need circulation of money, so we need fair trade between different parts of society we live in. We must consume locally first so that all people in a country are paid well for their produce. Agriculture, farming, or water, what is best is chosen. Small-scale businesses must be paid well and taxed less, so that money circulates through more hands. There are many professions that would thrive in this AI era, even without using AI, such as growing affordable organic plants, fruits, and more. Devising ways to transfer food across the nation needs humans, too, but not many want to drive long distances in a truck, so how? Think if AI and Robotics can help you with it? Would you drive your milk truck remotely near Christmas time with safe remote driving? We are not there yet, but in future for sure? No I am not talking about driverless cars! Money must flow; this is what is needed from any country’s financial and economic budget. Robot and AI must be taxed. The economic budget must ensure an increase in the flow of money in society. Taxing each robot and using robot and AI tax to help cover bills and fund public facilities in a country. So, AI and robotics must pay taxes to public fundings.

Keywords-philosophy, jobs, food, market, money.

I. Introduction

The philosophy of money, job, and society is revolving around in everyone’s mind now. There are fears of layoffs, of the AI bubble bursting, and of where the cliff we have reached would lead us. Would we fall down the cliff, or would we get on some bridge to get to a new world? Yes, a new world like never before. We are all moving at a fast pace, whether we are contributing directly or assimilating knowledge and accepting that mankind has reached a cliff from which the way forward needs to be worked out.

There is unrest in society about what will happen to jobs. When people like Elon Musk say work would be optional, just like playing video games or growing plants, it sparks debate. Playing video games can be addictive, and growing plants is a responsibility. Rich people like Elon Musk can make work optional where their needs are met. But common people need to understand that work is not more about passion now. Just like coding was a passion for many software engineers, and employees used to enjoy coding and bug fixing, now it’s no longer a pleasure; it’s work, work to earn money. So, what does society fear now? Mass layoffs, when their number will come, increasing electricity bills, rising grocery prices? And what would their children do? What will the world be like in the next 10 years? These are the concerns of society right now. Elon Musk has everything he needs; he can be without work and work when needed, and go off to gardening, as he said in a meeting in Saudi Arabia.

So, there is a need to understand how clearly the problem that occupies people’s minds in society is presented. In Section II, we discuss money, why money was created, what the aim of money was, and how money can be restored to its original position. In Section II, we also discuss how old professions can be reformed into newer professions, and how economies always change within a century or two. It’s time for our economics to take a fresh look in a clear mirror.

II. Money

So what is money, and how do people earn it if they are laid off? To understand this, let’s first see what money is, what it was, and how money was created in the beginning. Millennia ago, people celebrated barter systems. But barter had its drawbacks; for example, if you wanted to buy a woolen sweater from a shepherd, you needed to give him a quintal of wheat. The shepherd used to take wheat to a shop to be processed into flour, and in exchange, he would give some woolens. The person already had woolens, so the flour maker would trade these woolens to buy bedsheets from another shop. This went on, with large quantities of processed materials being moved from one shop to another, sometimes from one village to another or from one city to another. This was a clumsy trading system. Then gold was introduced; stamped coins issued by emperors came into use, and these coins became a medium for trade. This was the invention of money — the first money. Some people also traded in silver coins or raw gold. So, this is the story of money.

How does it play now? People used to work in their professions and sell their surplus for money or coins, as was the case. Now, with AI doing all jobs, where will we sell our products? Where will trade come from? Money was like a god to people, as it provided them with food when they wanted it and convenience where they needed it. Now, how does money come into the picture? We need money to buy food, get supplies of medicine for requirements, pay for professional consultations, and have things like furniture installed or repaired.

Wait, what it means is that we would still need money to travel from one part of society to another. That means a flow of money would be necessary. So, what Elon Musk said — that work would be optional — can be partly true because money is needed, so some form of work would be required. Maybe people might opt for consulting or contract jobs; they work for a while and then stop. But society that relies on their services would not accept non-continuous work. Society needs a guarantee of continuous work for stability.

Money is necessary for modern living. We earn money to buy bread, butter, and jam. This was never the case before. Now we need to clarify and create laws about how we get paid. In the past, we were paid based on our mental skills or physical effort. But now we have robots and AI replacing both mental skills and physical stamina. Will we be paid more if our robots perform well? Will we buy a robot, train it, or remotely operate it so we can do work with AI and the robot to earn money? For example, in a honey bee harvesting process, a safe robotic method, we buy a robot, make it work, and sell honey to earn money. The earnings from this robot go into your pocket as you bought and trained this robot. Or you operate this robot remotely. This helps you buy bread, chicken, and butter.

However, the money earned from AI might be directed to AI companies. How would this setup fit into an advanced society? In the next section, we will discuss work that will always be needed. Money is always proportional to work done, so let’s see how money would circulate in society.

III. Work

Can robots do all work? No, they are not ready yet. Can robots be prepared to do all work? No, it’s too early for robotics to replace society. So, how would money, as the forefront of the economy, circulate? Circulation of money is crucial. Who would own robots that automate the work? You? Yes you? Train a robot on your own? Then you would earn the profits made by robots, not the robotic company?

Would you own robots to automate crop farming or beekeeping? Then you would own the money those robots make. So why worry? No government can own that many robots unless rich people, like some robotic companies, release their jobless robots to your fields to mow and cultivate food, and then sell the harvest to warehouses. Remember, land is yours, so the rich entrepreneurs releasing their robots onto your farms need to pay you for it, and since it requires no work from you, work becomes optional. But how could you tell a robot where to grow what, when a rich entrepreneur can’t do it all alone? They would need your help. The robots are theirs; the management is yours; the land is yours, so you get the profit — you mow your land with the help of robots, ask for money, hire workers to send surplus to warehouses and markets. Then money flows from the market into your pockets. Keep in mind, any such robotic takeover of farming might take 5 to 10 years, if it’s God’s will. Or, in the other case, the robot is yours too: you buy it on loan, harvest crops as you want, make profits, and pay dividends.

The farming example above is just for illustration. The same happens in other fields as well. Whether it’s car manufacturing or other industries, robots are making cars, but humans still need to operate them. If work is being automated, car mechanics can increase their salaries to make a profit; in this case, robots are owned by car makers. Make as much profit as is necessary. One should not blackmail but keep profits aligned with inflation, as this money needs to be distributed to other needy people in different job sectors, such as car painters or tire makers.

Humans would always be needed in the following disciplines of work:

i. Large Scale Manufacturing: Yes, bots have taken over warehouses, and robots are manufacturing cars and scooters. But we still need humans to operate them. How can people earn in this scenario? Well, the consultants can work in the factories and ask for payment in return. Fixed working hours mean money can be distributed to other manufacturing specialists. Here, work won’t be optional but based on hours, ensuring that people don’t overwork and receive a fair share of the money. Note that manufacturing also consumes a lot of energy, so companies need to pay for electricity and battery bills, which is another aspect of the business. This sets a trade-off between using robots and human experts with intelligence!

ii. Small scale manufacturing: Here, medium and small scale industries make products by hand and labor or with the help of robots they buy. This involves a one-time payment for purchasing the robot and operating it with their intellect. Things such as glasses, cups, tea sets, globes, deodorants, and more. This needs a market, supply and demand of products. This can be like agricultural machinery or types of paint.

iii. Repair: Mechanics, electricians, and plumbers would be needed at various levels. Whether in large industries or small-scale homes or businesses, these professionals are unlikely to be replaced by robots in the short term. They perform a wide range of work that requires skill, including repairing robots, gadgets, and devices. This is a significant industry that can employ many people, and pay packages can vary from thousands of dollars, as fixing a robot can be a challenging and rewarding task. These professionals may be hired by manufacturers or may start their own shops for this work.

iv. Salon: Men and women, when AI and robotics reduce workload, they may want to look nice and buy many beauty products. People visit salons to improve their appearance. These will be small-scale or very small-scale businesses. However, money will be needed for this, so they should keep prices low enough for more people to access salon services at home or in stores. These can’t be replaced by AI, as people can’t trust a robot to do their like of facial ever and never.

v. Cleaning: This is a big industry that robots can’t do yet. People want their homes, offices, and buildings cleaned. This isn’t everyone’s job, so they offer good payments for the work done. These services can be provided online through some portal or as a self-accomplished brand name earned through work and time.

vi. Décor: As workloads decrease, people will pay attention to decorating their houses, offices, buildings, and gardens. This will foster both AI-based and manual artwork. Yes, artisans will have to compete with AI art, but it will remain a profession that can pay well. AI-based copyright issues will need to be addressed here either by taxes on AI products above a value or likes.

vii. Delivery: Bot and drone deliveries will take some time, so human delivery is still needed. People are required for this task. Drone delivery also needs humans to monitor the drones. Drone traffic is an issue that can affect city functions, and avoiding drone accidents is another concern.

viii. Kitchen: We need kitchen maintenance. We need kitchen stock maintenance, cleanliness, and cooking all at the same level. So people can work as chefs, but robots may take time to do all this accurately. So, can we hire chefs? Why should only the rich have personal chefs? Do you like to make coffee? And do you want to make it a profession? Then let’s turn making coffee into a career. Why only have coffee at Starbucks? Why not by the best coffee makers in the neighbourhood? But all this would require trust. So, can we trust strangers to come to our house to make coffee? Well, if they are registered and verified by authorities, these strangers could become friends soon! See you at coffee then? Another idea is hiring chefs — junk food, vegetarian, Italian, or whatever you want to eat — bring them home and have them cook it. It can save money lost to bars in the UK, where stagnation has been driven by economic constraints. Maybe one day you can cook with your chef and become friends with them as well. Robots will take time to do this.

ix. Agriculture: Growing food in a more affordable way that is organic and free from insecticides and pesticides could be the future. This approach allows everyone to access high-quality organic food. During winter, people could enjoy strawberries and mangoes at reasonable prices; this is the goal of future farming. Achieving this requires science and research in agriculture. Additionally, it needs dedication, professional farmers, and consumers. Let us aim to have blueberries and other exotic fruits in summer, which are often too expensive to eat even in winter. We should also make greenhouse-grown products cheaper with the help of modern science.

x. Food Warehouses: Let our warehouses be free from pests and maintain controlled humidity. Let AI be used to manage the temperatures and climate inside the warehouses for each crop. Till there is no AI here, let human experts handle the warehouses.

xi. Food: Food can be processed or unprocessed. We should have enough money to buy food. Food should be within reach of everyone across society. From agriculture to warehousing, food reaches your home intelligently. This is the cost we pay for having food on our table. Farming is a profession we need. Farming for billions of people is a responsible job that requires continuous work throughout the year. Nothing is optional here; nothing is a hobby. It is full-time work that cannot be set aside. Some farmers may hire or buy robots to help, but that is their choice. Just like we shifted from bullock carts to tractors, we are now moving from tractors to robots. But who would maintain and operate the robots — the farm owners? Who is cheaper and more reliable — humans or robots? Human workers in the land or robots? Human workers, even though the hype around AI has made farming a profession that is often undervalued. So let’s raise our hand and make farming a respected profession. Let laborers be paid professionally. Let’s go and cut grapes for wine as professionals. Let’s identify as farmers!

xii. Electricity and Internet: These jobs are very responsible, and need a lot of complicated learning. From dams to solar to green power, this field is evolving. We need people to work here; if they go on strike, the whole world could come to a halt. Similarly, we need workers to provide internet and satellite services.

xiii. Accessories: These are optional items influenced by fashion and current trends. Since trends change over time, artisans need to stay flexible and adapt their work accordingly; their profits can vary with these shifts. Such work can be considered waiting and watching, where artisans wait for the right moment to create certain pieces. They can also produce items in advance and store surplus for when trends return, say, in a few years, unless the items are perishable. Alternatively, they can create art on demand with the help of AI or robots.

xiv. Gadgets: We need a lot of home appliances, gadgets, and their accessories. These items are very important because they help with household chores. They assist in the kitchen and laundry. Such gadgets can include tablets, headphones, food processors, trendy coffee makers, and more. These products usually don’t require human labor and can be produced by companies that are not top-tier.

xv. Guards, military, and policing: These tasks require humans to do the self-explanatory work. Robots are not there yet. However, a security organization can seek help from their employees to maintain robots. This would free up employees to focus on providing security in terrains that are not easily accessible by humans, such as areas affected by snow storms.

xvi. Teaching: Well, this depends on the development of robots that can know everything and teach everyone! Since current faculty do not have a “know-it-all” tool with them.

xvii. Other professions such as lawyers, medical professionals, and the like: These professions will be affected by AI, but it may take time to see real impacts. How much time?

xviii. Water and air: The need for pure water and air is fundamental to our needs. More research and products are needed for these essentials.

So no need to look down in these tough changing times. There is a lot to get.

IV. Conclusion and Future Work

AI and robotics have arrived. The AI bubble is here, but the question remains: will it burst? Right now, we, as a society, must find ways to circulate money within different segments. The flow of money indicates the health of society; it shows that what society produces is circulating properly. This way, everyone can afford essentials like bread and butter, and even some wine! The goal is to move towards a new model of money management, focused on consulting rather than traditional employment, to reduce working hours for any profession and enable more people to find some form of employment. Some professions, like farming, trucking, and food distribution, will always be essential. We are a planet of billions — requiring food, water, and clean air — and other needs are optional. While many optional things are being automated, AI has not yet profoundly impacted agriculture. Therefore, we must advance as a society, recognize that a path exists beyond the cliff we stand on, and hope remains with us. A place where equality and respect among professions is established. This would be the basis for the financial and economic budget for the future, where good profits from AI and tech would be taxed for the welfare of the public we are together.