"I love my robot lawn mowers, my laptop, wifi, Google, Facetime, Whatsapp and the possibility of drone postal deliveries and more.. Yet worries nag about being overwhelmed by an artificial intelligence revolution whose ethical and moral parameters are less clear than its rampant profiteering from and monetising of your lives and mine. This hugely informative book shakes us out of our massage armchairs and demands that we engage immediately with these galloping advances so we can shape them to the benefit of the many and not leave them to the enrichment of the few at the awful cost of the impoverishment of swathes of humanity". Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland.

"Robots, Ethics and The Future of Jobs is a wakeup call for political, civic, media and church leaders, urging a response to the deepening and accelerating pace of technological change and its potential consequences. Artificial Intelligence, robotics, drones, the internet of things and 3D printing are the building blocks of the 4^th industrial revolution. These technologies offer great potential but also carry real risks and are reaching into every corner of our lives, civilian and military. Who will win and who will lose? Who will set the rules and the ethical boundaries within which they should develop and operate? Will the displaced be included, if so, how; or ignored and, if so, with what political, social and economic consequences? That these questions cannot be avoided and should not be postponed - and that we do not need to wait for change to happen because it is already upon us - are central messages of this thought provoking text." Pat Cox, former President European Parliament.

About the Author
Sean McDonagh is a Columban missionary. He spent over two decades working in the Philippines and has written extensively on ecology and theology. He was awarded the Annual Partnership for Global Justice Award in 2011 and has been president of An Taisce, a major environmental organization in Ireland since 2018.

Reviews

'...required reading for all those who take their faith seriously. This book needs to be widely available, read, and its contents put into practice and earthed.'

Catholic South West Feb21

-- Denis Blackledge SJ * Catholic South West Diocesan magazine *

'...an accessible and thought-provoking look at the potential of new technology to bring about seismic societal change and a call for discourse and decisions to ensure the best outcomes for humanity.'

ICN Feb21

* Independent Catholic News website *

'...this important book...deals with complex ideas ...in refreshingly simple language...I would highly recommend it.'

Brendan Hoban, Western People, Feb21

-- Brendan Hoban * Western People *

How should we respond ethically to these developments? All this, and much more, is explored by the author...'

-- Nigel Waugh * Church Review *

The book ranges widely... it is not limited to truckers and retailers, but also to high-end economic work, from factories in Bangladesh to stockbrokers in New York... an engaging introduction to the subject'

The Irish Catholic
Apr21

-- Ruadhan Jones * The Irish Catholic *

'...this is the best introduction to these questions yet written for a popular Irish audience. It is accessible to a reader who is coming to these topics completely fresh. McDonagh will deepen your understanding and prompt you to question your assumptions.'

-- Kevin Hargaden * Jesuit Centre for Faith & Justice *

'McDonagh draws on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic to spotlight how people might react to being out of work on a mass scale. [This book] highlights the need to address the potential repercussions of these developing technologies.'

-- Sarah MacDonald * National Catholic Reporter *

'...timely, accessible, well-researched and thought-provoking: this is a thoroughly readable and enjoyable book. It addresses some of the key challenges facing twenty-first century society and should be essential reading for anyone in public life or in education.'

-- Pat O'Mahony * Doctrine & Life *

'...intelligent, critically reflective, and honest. McDonagh writes with clarity and charity. The book is a pleasure to read.'

-- Christopher West * Search Journal *

'clear and accessible, it is an engaging read and a good introduction to the topic for the lay person'
Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review

-- Margaret McGaley * Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review *

'...highly informative, provocative and challenging...a must-read, especially for those in leadership roles. A book critical for our times'

The Furrow Oct 21

-- Suzanne Mulligan * The Furrow *



Book Information
ISBN 9781788123068
Author Sean McDonagh
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Messenger Publications
Publisher Messenger Publications