Daniel Susskind Books

Over the past two centuries, economic growth has freed billions from poverty and made our lives far healthier and longer. As a result, the unfettered pursuit of growth defines economic life around the world. Yet this prosperity has come at an enormous price: deepening inequalities, destabilizing technologies, environmental destruction and climate change. Confusion reigns. For many, in our era of anaemic economic progress, the worry is slowing growth - in the UK, Europe, China and elsewhere. Others understandably claim, given its costs, that the only way forward is through 'degrowth', deliberating shrinking our economies. At this time of uncertainty about growth and its value, award-winning economist Daniel Susskind has written an essential reckoning. In a sweeping analysis full of historical insight, he argues that we cannot abandon growth but shows instead how we must redirect it, making it better reflect what we truly value. He explores what really drives growth, and offers original ideas for combatting our economic slowdown. Lucid, thought- provoking and brilliantly researched, Growth: A Reckoning is a vital guide to one of our greatest preoccupations.

"From mechanical looms to the combustion engine to the first computers, new technologies have always provoked panic about workers being replaced by machines. For centuries, such fears have been misplaced, and many economists maintain that they remain so today. But as Daniel Susskind demonstrates, this time really is different. Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence mean that all kinds of jobs are increasingly at risk. Drawing on almost a decade of research in the field, Susskind argues that machines no longer need to think like us in order to outperform us, as was once widely believed. As a result, more and more tasks that used to be far beyond the capability of computers - from diagnosing illnesses to drafting legal contracts, from writing news reports to composing music - are coming within their reach. The threat of technological unemployment is now real. This is not necessarily a bad thing, Susskind emphasizes. Technological progress could bring about unprecedented prosperity, solving one of humanity's oldest problems: how to make sure that everyone has enough to live on. The challenges will be to distribute this prosperity fairly, to constrain the burgeoning power of Big Tech, and to provide meaning in a world where work is no longer the center of our lives."--Jacket flap

New technologies have always provoked panic about workers being replaced by machines. In the past, such fears have been misplaced, and many economists maintain that they remain so today. Yet in A World Without Work, Daniel Susskind shows why this time really is different. Advances in artificial intelligence mean that all kinds of tasks - from diagnosing illnesses to drafting contracts - are increasingly within the reach of computers. The threat of technological unemployment is real. So how can we all thrive in a world with less work? Susskind reminds us that technological progress could bring about unprecedented prosperity, solving one of mankind's oldest problems- how to ensure everyone has enough to live on. The challenge will be to distribute this prosperity fairly, constrain the power of Big Tech, and provide meaning in a world where work is no longer the centre of our lives. In this visionary, pragmatic and ultimately hopeful book, Susskind shows us the way.

Originally published 2015; with a new preface.

This book predicts the decline of today's professions and describes the people and systems that will replace them. In an Internet society, according to Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind, we will neither need nor want doctors, teachers, accountants, architects, the clergy, consultants, lawyers, and many others, to work as they did in the 20th century. The Future of the Professions explains how 'increasingly capable systems' -- from telepresence to artificial intelligence -- will bring fundamental change in the way that the 'practical expertise' of specialists is made available in society. The authors challenge the 'grand bargain' -- the arrangement that grants various monopolies to today's professionals. They argue that our current professions are antiquated, opaque and no longer affordable, and that the expertise of their best is enjoyed only by a few. In their place, they propose six new models for producing and distributing expertise in society. The book raises important practical and moral questions. In an era when machines can out-perform human beings at most tasks, what are the prospects for employment, who should own and control online expertise, and what tasks should be reserved exclusively for people? Based on the authors' in-depth research of more than ten professions, and illustrated by numerous examples from each, this is the first book to assess and question the relevance of the professions in the 21st century.

Este libro predice el declive de las profesiones actuales y explica las personas y los sistemas que las sustituirán. En una sociedad caracterizada por la presencia de Internet, según Richard Susskind y Daniel Susskind, no necesitaremos que los médicos, profesores, contables, arquitectos, sacerdotes, consultores, abogados y muchos otros, trabajen como lo hacían en el siglo XX. El futuro de las profesiones explica cómo "sistemas cada vez más capaces"--Desde la tele-presencia hasta la inteligencia artificial- conllevarán cambios fundamentales en la forma en que el conocimiento práctico de los especialistas se pone a disposición de la sociedad. Los autores ponen en cuestión el "gran trato", el acuerdo que garantiza diversos monopolios a los profesionales actuales. Defienden que nuestras profesiones actuales están anticuadas, son opacas y difícilmente asequibles, y que el conocimiento de los mejores pueden disfrutarlo sólo unos pocos. En su lugar, proponen seis nuevos modelos de producción y distribución del conocimiento. El libro plantea importantes cuestiones morales y prácticas. En una era en que las máquinas pueden superar a los seres humanos en la mayoría de tareas, ¿cuáles son las perspectivas para el empleo?, ¿quién debe poseer y controlar el conocimiento por Internet?, ¿y qué tareas deben reservarse únicamente a las personas? Basada en la profunda investigación de más de diez profesiones, e ilustrado por numerosos ejemplos de cada una, éste es el primer libro que evalúa y se pregunta por la relevancia de las profesiones en el siglo XXI.

Profesjonaliści: prawnicy, lekarze, nauczyciele czy dziennikarze odgrywają tak istotną rolę w życiu każdego z nas, że trudno sobie wyobrazić, aby te zawody miały w przyszłości zaniknąć. Richard i Daniel Susskind przewidują, że wraz z rozwojem technologicznym coraz zdolniejsze maszyny przejmą wiele zadań, które w przeszłości były wyłączną domeną profesjonalistów. Zmianom ulega nie tylko zakres pracy poszczególnych specjalistów, lecz także sposoby, w jakich ich wiedza jest przechowywana i udostępniana społeczeństwu. Autorzy opisują w książce m.in.: jaki jest potencjał i ograniczenia coraz zdolniejszych maszyn; jaki będzie wpływ technologii na zatrudnienie; czy wszystkie zawody można zastąpić pracą maszyn; jaką drogę zawodową powinny wybrać kolejne pokolenia; jak rządy powinny dostosowywać swoje działania do zmieniających się realiów rynkowych. Rozważania autorów oparte są na przeprowadzonych przez nich badaniach ponad 10 różnych zawodów (m.in. prawników, lekarzy, księgowych, doradców podatkowych, nauczycieli, architektów, dziennikarzy) i są zilustrowane wieloma praktycznymi przykładami. Jest to lektura obowiązkowa dla każdego, kto interesuje się przyszłością rynku pracy i profesji.