Automation was in the spotlight at the Democratic debate

An image of Automation, AI, Automation was in the spotlight at the Democratic debate

The subject of automation was in the spotlight again on Tuesday, as the state of Ohio played host to the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates in the fourth Democratic debate

Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of the twelve candidates, recently wrote that blaming job loss on automation is ”a good story, except it’s not really true.”

Democratic hopeful Andrew Yang was asked to respond.

“I’ve been talking to Americans around the country about automation,” Yang said, “And they’re smart. They see what’s happening around them. Their Main Street stores are closing. They see a self-serve kiosk in every McDonalds, every grocery store, every CVS.”

The looming threat of automation

Yang has been vocal about the looming threat of automation, running with it as one of his core policies throughout his campaign. It often goes hand in hand with his promise for UBI, which consists of a $1000 a month dividend for all Americans. He sees this “freedom” dividend and as a safety net for Americans who might find themselves out of work as a direct result of automation.

The debate itself did little to address the topic of automation. Instead, the Democratic candidates on-stage opted to blame free trade policy for the economic downturn, a subject that gels well with voters, along with the customary lambasting of President Donald Trump – his name was mentioned more than 80 times, automation was uttered just 9 times.

However, Yang did mention the fears he has for self-driving, autonomous vehicles, and what that might mean for millions of people.

“Driving a truck is the most common job in 29 states, including this one,” he said to the packed auditorium in Westerville, Ohio. “3.5 million truck drivers in this country. And my friends in California are piloting self-driving trucks.”

“What is that going to mean for the 3.5 million truckers or the 7 million Americans who work in truck stops, motels, and diners that rely upon the truckers getting out and having a meal? Saying this is a rules problem is ignoring the reality that Americans see around us every single day.”

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard weighed in.

“You know, really what this is about is getting to the heart of the fear that is well founded. As people look to this automation revolution, they look to uncertainty. They don’t know how this is going to affect their jobs and their everyday lives,” she said.


Automation might just be the talk of the decade. It looks to drastically alter the future of work for millions of people, for good or ill. But, for all the fear surrounding automation, reports suggest that more jobs will be created than will be lost.

A paper published earlier this year by ManPower Group revealed that companies which are digitising are growing, with new jobs being produced as a result of that digitisation. According to the report, manufacturing and production will see the most change. 25% of employers in the sector say that they will employ more people in the near-term. Increased robotic automation in the manufacturing industry is undoubtedly helping companies to boost productivity, which is proving critical to economic growth. 


READ MORE: Where do humans fit into Industry 4.0?



It is estimated that, over the next decade, the manufacturing sector will produce up to 2 million new jobs in the US, and 2.7 million manufacturing workers are set to retire by 2025. To ensure that the skills shortage, education and learning is essential.

Whether automation will have such a drastic impact on American citizens still remains to be seen. Politicians on the campaign trail are right to broach the subject, but answers are as yet not forthcoming, and their path to solving these rapidly approaching changes remains clouded by political rhetoric. 

An image of Automation, AI, Automation was in the spotlight at the Democratic debate

Luke Conrad

Technology & Marketing Enthusiast

Addressing Regulatory Compliance in Government-Owned, Single-Use Devices

Nadav Avni • 26th March 2024

Corporate-owned single-use (COSU) devices, also known as dedicated devices, make work easier for businesses and many government agencies. They’re powerful smart devices that fulfil a single purpose. Think smart tablets used for inventory tracking, information kiosks, ATMs, or digital displays. But, in a government setting, these devices fall under strict regulatory compliance standards.

Advantages of Cloud-based CAD Solutions for Modern Designers

Marius Marcus • 22nd March 2024

Say goodbye to the days of clunky desktop software chaining us to specific desks. Instead, we’re stepping into a new era fueled by cloud CAD solutions. These game-changing tools not only offer designers unmatched flexibility but also foster collaboration and efficiency like never before!

What are Multi-core Safety-Critical Avionics?

Wind River • 13th March 2024

A multi-core processor is a type of central processing unit that integrates multiple individual processing units onto a single chip. It supports different cores executing their tasks simultaneously, for quick and enhanced overall performance. Multi-core processors nowadays support safety-critical avionics. Find out more about what multi-core processors are, what multi-core safety-critical avionics are, and how...

Why Transition from 4G to 5G+ vRAN/O-RAN?

Emily Goldshteyn • 13th March 2024

The journey from legacy to 5G doesn’t have to be off-putting. It is a process that, if approached strategically, can make your company a pioneer in the digital age. Virtual and Open RAN, which come with broader choices of technology options and greater flexibility, are giving service providers greater opportunity as they transition their networks....