Poem: The Robot

Photo by Andrea De Santis on Unsplash

Craig RA Hesketh's poems, and is perhaps timely given the publication of Magnifica Humanitas and the Holy Father's observations as follows:

150. Today, the convergence of automation, robotics and AI is rapidly transforming the very structure of work. It is said that this will bring great improvements for everyone. In reality, however, the "new ways" of working are not necessarily better, for "while AI promises to boost productivity by taking over mundane tasks, it frequently forces workers to adapt to the speed and demands of machines, rather than machines being designed to support those who work. As a result, contrary to the advertised benefits of AI, current approaches to technology can paradoxically de-skill workers, subject them to automated surveillance and relegate them to rigid and repetitive tasks. The need to keep up with the pace of technology can erode workers' sense of agency and stifle the innovative abilities they are expected to bring to their work."

152. Precisely in order to avoid this drift, it is necessary to design systems that are centered on the human person and not solely on performance.

The Robot

The factories in the east of my city
made robots of men.

It appeared as a natural
self-evident order of things
but by design and calculation they made robots of men.

These men
pulled on working boots each day
to operate that same machine
to make that same component
bell to bell;

their best hours, days, years
before catching retirement's cancer or its strokes.

A million identical units
the output of a human life.

When the robots finally arrived they were given 'complex tasks'

it was a waste of technology
of their investment otherwise.

Such impressive machines
such expensive machines.

We have men to do the simple
repetitive tasks they would say

"We cannot waste a robot on those."

Craig RA Hesketh

Craig is a former trade union official who lives in Greater Manchester