--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a technologist, I see the trends, and…" description: "\"As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we do not find a way to provide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/edward-snowden-555_automation_as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i_485649.jpg" --- # As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that… ![“As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we do not find a way to provide a basic income for people who have no work, or no meaningful work, we’re going to have social unrest that could get people killed. When we have…” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/edward-snowden-555_automation_as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i_485649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/edward-snowden-555_automation_as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i_485649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/587/edward-snowden-555_automation_as-a-technologist-i-see-the-trends-and-i_485649.jpg) > “As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we do not find a way to provide a basic income for people who have no work, or no meaningful work, we’re going to have social unrest that could get people killed. When we have increasing production - year after year after year - some of that needs to be reinvested in society.” [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Automation will reduce jobs, making universal basic income essential to prevent unrest and allocate surplus production. **In simple terms:** Automation cuts jobs, need basic income. Key Takeaway Support policies for income security. Themes economics automation social policy inequality Mood concerned urgent Type policy ethical When to use this quote - government budgeting - job training - tax reform - community programs Key Concepts universal basic income automation impact social stability Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can fund basic income? - How to balance automation benefits with job loss? A Different Perspective Political resistance may stall reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Automation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation/) [Automation Inevitably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation-inevitably-4167395/) [Basic Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-income-345735/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Fewer Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer-jobs-891688/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Meaningful work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful-work/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social unrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-unrest/) [Technologist Trends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technologist-trends-4167396/) [Trends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trends/) [Unrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unrest/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [A universal basic income funded by a value-added tax, which is a tax placed on a product whenever value is added at each stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/a-universal-basic-income-funded-by-a-value-added-tax-which-is-a-tax/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [An economic strategy built around hiking taxes for business means one thing: fewer jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/an-economic-strategy-built-around-hiking-taxes-for-business-means-one/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [The Democrats' anti-business economic policies would mean less money and fewer jobs in America, which inevitably means fewer opportunities to go on vacation too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-trump/the-democrats-anti-business-economic-policies-would-mean-less-money/) [Lara Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-trump/) > [The higher the wages the fewer the jobs; the lower the wages the more the jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-higher-the-wages-the-fewer-the-jobs-the-lower-the-wages-the-more/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [More of the same will just produce more of the same: less competitiveness, less growth, fewer jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/more-of-the-same-will-just-produce-more-of-the-same-less/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [I worked probably fewer jobs than most people, or fewer real soul-killing jobs than other people. I've been a typist, a typesetter, a keyliner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-worked-probably-fewer-jobs-than-most-people-or-fewer-real-soul/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [Every day we let this Brexit mess go on means less money being invested in the UK, fewer jobs being created and less tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-swinson/every-day-we-let-this-brexit-mess-go-on-means-less-money-being/) [Jo Swinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-swinson/) > [In working on any one problem, such as higher minimum wages, so many other issues come into play, such as some businesses possibly closing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/in-working-on-any-one-problem-such-as-higher-minimum-wages-so-many/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [Capitalism inevitably and by virtue of the very logic of its civilization creates, educates and subsidizes a vested interest in social unrest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/capitalism-inevitably-and-by-virtue-of-the-very-logic-of-its/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Social unrest and protectionism are the two major risks of the world economic crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/social-unrest-and-protectionism-are-the-two-major-risks-of-the-world/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) > [Stark inequality, poverty, and unemployment are driving increased social unrest and, consequently, social and economic risk. Environmental deterioration may well intensify social inequality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/stark-inequality-poverty-and-unemployment-are-driving-increased/) [Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/) > [Misusing the democrazy will lead in to social unrest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/misusing-the-democrazy-will-lead-in-to-social-unrest/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) > [“Isn’t it a strange thing,” he asked Barton, “that in every period of social unrest men have the notion that they can pass a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/isn-t-it-a-strange-thing-he-asked-barton-that-in-every-period-of/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [“Conant was concerned that the “particular functions” that might be assigned to young people would be dictated by the economic conditions of their families,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-roth/conant-was-concerned-that-the-particular-functions-that-might-be/) [Michael S. Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-roth/) > [When the civil rights are denying by the authorities, in a country.The people will be under the slavery , from the slavery all social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumesh-nair/when-the-civil-rights-are-denying-by-the-authorities-in-a-country-the/) [Sumesh Nair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumesh-nair/) ## More by Edward Snowden > [It is afraid of an informed, angry public demanding the constitutional government it was promised - and it should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-is-afraid-of-an-informed-angry-public-demanding-the-constitutional/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Much of what I saw in Geneva really disillusioned me about how my government functions and what its impact is in the world. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/much-of-what-i-saw-in-geneva-really-disillusioned-me-about-how-my/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The NSA and Israel wrote Stuxnet together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-nsa-and-israel-wrote-stuxnet-together/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [As a general rule, so long as you have any choice at all, you should never route through or peer with the UK under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/as-a-general-rule-so-long-as-you-have-any-choice-at-all-you-should/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ \[Brazil\] went to the UN and said, "We need new standards for this." We need to take a look at what they're calling "data… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/brazil-went-to-the-un-and-said-we-need-new-standards-for-this-we-need/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We need to think about encryption not as this sort of arcane, black art. It's a basic protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-need-to-think-about-encryption-not-as-this-sort-of-arcane-black/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [A lot of people in 2008 voted for Obama. I did not vote for him. I voted for a third party. But I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-lot-of-people-in-2008-voted-for-obama-i-did-not-vote-for-him-i/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too often we forget that social and political movements don't happen overnight. They don't bring change immediately - you have to build a critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/too-often-we-forget-that-social-and-political-movements-don-t-happen/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ There was a real choice when \[Barack Obama\] became president. It was a very difficult choice - to say, "We're not going to hold… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/there-was-a-real-choice-when-barack-obama-became-president-it-was-a/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [We've learned that we've allowed technological capabilities to dictate policies and practices, rather than ensuring that our laws and values guide our technological capabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-learned-that-we-ve-allowed-technological-capabilities-to/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's much easier, I think, to protect communications while they're in transit at least, than it is to enforce legislation in every country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/it-s-much-easier-i-think-to-protect-communications-while-they-re-in/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I care more about the country than what happens to me. But we can't allow the law to become a political weapon or agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-care-more-about-the-country-than-what-happens-to-me-but-we-can-t/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Explore all 478 Edward Snowden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) ## More Automation quotes > [“But it will make mistakes," she says. "Hadoop will probably get us from a hundred thousand buildings down to, like, five thousand." "So we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/but-it-will-make-mistakes-she-says-hadoop-will-probably-get-us-from-a/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavailable-employers-can-hire/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of society being at all relevant to women, there remains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/life-in-this-society-being-at-best-an-utter-bore-and-no-aspect-of/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [I think the automation of vision is a much bigger deal than the invention of perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/i-think-the-automation-of-vision-is-a-much-bigger-deal-than-the/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [Many Western nations have made significant gains through automation and operational excellence, while emerging markets rely on ever-increasing numbers of workers. Each will improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-paliwal/many-western-nations-have-made-significant-gains-through-automation/) [Dinesh Paliwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-paliwal/) > [“Best4Automation is the industry marketplace, which combines all the advantages of a modern on-line shop with the fast logistics of large manufacturers. Our well-known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/best4automation/best4automation-is-the-industry-marketplace-which-combines-all-the/) [Best4automation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/best4automation/) > [“Automation is cost cutting by tightening the corners and not cutting them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haresh-sippy/automation-is-cost-cutting-by-tightening-the-corners-and-not-cutting/) [Haresh Sippy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haresh-sippy/) > [And a revolution of automation finds machines replacing men in the mines and mills of America, without replacing their incomes or their training or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/and-a-revolution-of-automation-finds-machines-replacing-men-in-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [When the manufacturing decline began in earnest in 2001, the main culprits were the offshoring of jobs to China, with which we have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-daley/when-the-manufacturing-decline-began-in-earnest-in-2001-the-main/) [William M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-daley/) > [To be sure, robotics are not the only job killers out there, with outsourcing stealing far more gigs than automation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/to-be-sure-robotics-are-not-the-only-job-killers-out-there-with/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [I see three forces militating in favor of growing inequality: increasing measurement of worker value added, automation through smart software, and globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/i-see-three-forces-militating-in-favor-of-growing-inequality/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [Our whole economy and society is already being changed by the fact that we have increasing unemployment, mass unemployment and that's what we're facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-chan/our-whole-economy-and-society-is-already-being-changed-by-the-fact/) [Gemma Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-chan/) > [Look at trade and automation: two competing but slightly overlapping forces in the shrinking of the duration of jobs right now. We have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sasse/look-at-trade-and-automation-two-competing-but-slightly-overlapping/) [Ben Sasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sasse/) > [“intech automation is the study regarding automotive engineering for light and heavy vehicles in Brisbane Australia. Intech.edu.au is availing the courses automation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inetch/intech-automation-is-the-study-regarding-automotive-engineering-for/) [Inetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inetch/) > [The bottom line is that while automation is eliminating many jobs in the economy that were once done by people, there is no sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-vardi/the-bottom-line-is-that-while-automation-is-eliminating-many-jobs-in/) [Moshe Vardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-vardi/) [Browse all 125 Automation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a technologist, I see the trends, and I see that automation inevitably is going to mean fewer and fewer jobs. And if we do not find a way to provide a basic income for people who have no work, or no meaningful work, we’re going to have social unrest that could get people killed. 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