AI and robotics are coming. Which jobs will be in high demand? Which jobs are at risk?

[Ronald Zeeman]

The japenese model got me into quality

Also my dad was a city boy back in the home country skilled trades person welder dreamed about owing a farm.
wanted the lifestyle. Money was never the issue.

 

[Judge]

Also my dad was a city boy back in the home country skilled trades person welder dreamed about owing a farm.
wanted the lifestyle. Money was never the issue.

I suppose if one is sufficiently capitalized at the outset and can maintain a profit they can pursue such a lifestyle. If not, they will likely fail without someone or government subsidizing their losses. But such comparisons amount to "apples vs. oranges" when it comes to Canada vs. the US. Though one factor that both countries relatively share are climate concerns and how they are negatively impacting such a livelihood. Regardless of farming as a perceived "lifestyle".

No one from any country can perpetuate a lifestyle indefinitely without the capital to pay for it. It's the first thing most of us learn in college macroeconomics in the first week.

TANSTAAFL : "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch".

Ultimately money is always the issue for those who don't have it when they need it. So many things you cite about your family are very positive. However more likely they remain an exception- not the rule.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My dad relied on free labour his sons when we all left to get further education, he sold the farm bought a hardware store. then sold that after a few years bought another farm hobby farm basically retired. My sister currently owns a farm propery tax very low rents out land to local farmer to cash crop. dads other hobby was building houses no contractors on his own on lots on farm that were not arable for instance swampy area corner cut off by unused railroad track. lived off proceeds of house sales.

 

[Judge]

My dad relied on free labour his sons when we all left to get further education, he sold the farm bought a hardware store. then sold that after a few years bought another farm hobby farm basically retired. My sister currently owns a farm property tax very low rents out land to local farmer to cash crop. dads other hobby was building houses no contractors on his own on lots on farm that were not arable for instance swampy area corner cut off by unused railroad track. lived off proceeds of house sales.

My point exactly. That he was sufficiently capitalized to consider farming a lifestyle rather than a necessary income. He reflects an exception- not the rule. At least on our side of the border. Where nominal net worth doesn't meet the amount of debt they are carrying in real time. Unless for a few who finally elect to sell off the whole farm to start over in some other kind of endeavor.

Here it seems like an awfully tough way to make a declining living. Though I suppose if it's been in a family for generations, that's enough for some to struggle through the years without quitting. Though it all makes me wonder what the impact of AI and perhaps enhanced automation might be on this particular occupation. And whether individuals can afford to make use of it, or if it will become a complete monopoly on the part of corporate farming. We shall see...

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

He capitalized himself with the first hobby farm, after all he was a skilled trades man sold that bought a second farm us sons converted a former beef farm into a pig farm. lots of work fixed up barn two stories incidently pigs not supply managed. Being brighter than a typical farmer the inovations done gave us premium prices. His way of doing things resulted in local newspaper reporting on them. His friends were all the professional people in town doctor lawer, wealthy farmers. He only sold the farm as us sons were for the most part free labour. Paid my own way through college, With small student loan, Worked for other farmers who did not pay mininum wage not applicable to farms. worked a bit in hard ware store.

 

[Judge]

He capitalized himself with the first hobby farm, after all he was a skilled trades man sold that bought a second farm us sons converted a former beef farm into a pig farm. lots of work fixed up barn two stories incidently pigs not supply managed. Being brighter than a typical farmer the inovations done gave us premium prices. His way of doing things resulted in local newspaper reporting on them. His friends were all the professional people in town doctor lawer, wealthy farmers. He only sold the farm as us sons were for the most part free labour. Paid my own way through college, With small student loan, Worked for other farmers who did not pay mininum wage not applicable to farms. worked a bit in hard ware store.

Not much different than myself when I went into trading stocks full time. I couldn't have done it without using my own capital to make capital in the market. But again, we remain the exception- not the rule. For most people they don't have such resources, especially to fall back on in bad times not of their own making.

Yet I don't see myself having the patience- or the fortitude to sustain a livelihood like that in this country, where farming seems just like an inherently losing proposition for so many. Even if I did possess the capital to make such an operation function for at least three years.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

This cost of power is a huge issue world wide, and although they're fighting against it tooth and nail I think AI is what will hammer the final nail in the coffin of the fossil fuels industry. This chart is from a recent US report on the cost of different types of power generation, I think in the end price is what will decide for most of the world, fossil fuels are simply not competitive any more and neither is nuclear, not for the sorts of power requirements we now have.

View attachment 144539

Australia has gone down the green energy path in a big way and it's starting to pay dividends now. Our new Sodium Ion batteries are a bit of a game changer too, cheaper, lighter, higher energy density, less pollution in manufacture, and most importantly for many people, they don't get hot and catch fire if damaged. Elon Musk isn't too happy about this of course.

Tesla 'brand destruction' could cost it millions as battery sales boom

Agree and disagree on some points here.

There are those that are concerned about this current US administration removing solar and wind subsidies...whilst keeping all the fossil fuel subsidies. The reality is that, yes, there are some solar and wind energy contracts that will get cancelled...until they realize it is still the least expensive option. New pricing will be adjusted and new contracts will be created. It will be 12-18 months, I predict, and it will be business as usual.

Specifically, with Tesla, they are diversifying their portfolio quickly and their automotive division will be of lessening importance to their survival as a company. Utility-level energy, AI, autonomous transportation, and robots...each...will have over a $trillion in market cap. I can see a day where Tesla only makes vehicles for commercial and ride-sharing services, as this is not where the money is at.

Tesla has thrown a lot into the lithium ion battery production, infrastructure, etc. but sodium ion batteries are not off their radar. If sodium ion battery technology has a broader application and the cost factor is there, Tesla will diversify their energy division for sure. I've said for years, lithium ion is today's technology...and it will pass like every other past technology. Companies that can quickly engineer and invest...like Tesla...these are the ones that will survive the next wave of tech. Their mission statement is to transition the world to sustainable energy...period. If it is next generation sodium ion batteries, then Tesla will quickly transition.

Furthermore, most of the products and services that the Tesla, xAI, SpaceX, The Boring Company umbrella are producing and testing...that is for Mars (and the Moon) colonization. Talk to the people who work closely with Elon...everything they do and the rapid timelines are based upon his Mars plans. Earth is nothing more than a testing ground. All the autonomy, the robots, the energy infrastructure...all for building on Mars. Send all of this equipment to Mars, have the robots build the habitats, life support systems, and energy infrastructure before humans even show up. Elon is in his 50s, so he is going to push his companies with some urgency in order for him to live to see his dream come true. I can see some autistic hyperfocus coming into play here. Most investors and day traders aren't even thinking about this.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Lots of power up here hydro, nuclear. and yes robots need power they cannot ear grass. FAr as I know Tesla moved his battery production, To Quebec as lots of power required. Would not be surprised assembly follows following the aluminum.

 

[Judge]

FAr as I know Tesla moved his battery production,

That would be news to us. The Tesla "Gigafactory" is just a few miles down the freeway from where I live. Makes commuter traffic a nightmare though, given how many employees are cranking out batteries for Tesla's cars.

No plans to move this factory anywhere that I've heard. Losing it would devastate the local economy. Luckily they are expanding if anything.

https://www.tesla.com/giga-nevada

Tesla finally moves forward with Gigafactory Nevada expansion for Tesla Semi and 4680 cells

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

When I worked in auto assembly thier was 18 assembly plants, Know seeing some coming back guess steel aluminum lower canadian dollar, health care already covered makes it a better deal. Noticed Ford where formelly employed now rebuilding see new construction. Pretty sure batteries for your mega plant coming from Quebec. I no longer really follow this stuff. They have lots of power. It all comes down to follow the money.

 

[Judge]

When I worked in auto assembly thier was 18 assembly plants, Know seeing some coming back guess steel aluminum lower canadian dollar, health care already covered makes it a better deal. Noticed Ford where formelly employed now rebuilding see new construction. Pretty sure batteries for your mega plant coming from Quebec. I no longer really follow this stuff. They have lots of power. It all comes down to follow the money.

My understanding is that Canada is in partnership with Tesla, but supplies only certain components in the course of manufacturing the actual batteries for the Nevada Gigafactory. Like Canada, our state mines lithium for local battery production as well. Though it makes up only a small portion of lithium batteries compared to Japan and China.

Where are Tesla Batteries Made? Does Tesla Make its Own Batteries? | TeslaThunder - Tesla Accessories, Insights, & How-To's

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Not really following this stuff have lots of experience with aluminum if you want aluminum for a good price market needs to go to the source of refining, Noticed watching videos on u-tube lots of lying by omission.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Example of what I'm seeing

 

[Judge]

Not really following this stuff have lots of experience with aluminum if you want aluminum for a good price market needs to go to the source of refining, Noticed watching videos on u-tube lots of lying by omission.

I'm just wondering whatever those Canadian components are, whether impending tariffs may slow down local production of lithium batteries. That could get ugly on so many levels...while our Republican governor seems to struggle with kowtowing to Trump.

It seems Musk doesn't have a lot of options relative to this particular supply train. But then Trump already bit Musk in his arse in terms of legislation not favorable to electric vehicles. And their now rather public relationship that is less than cordial.

But then ultimately it's very clear who has the upper hand in such arguments. Wondering how long it will be before AI falls under this dark cloud of unnecessary controversy. It's certainly by no means an American monopoly across the planet.

 

[Outdated]

Tesla has thrown a lot into the lithium ion battery production, infrastructure, etc. but sodium ion batteries are not off their radar. If sodium ion battery technology has a broader application and the cost factor is there, Tesla will diversify their energy division for sure.

I think in the end circumstances are going to force his hand. There's two major economic factors.

One is the fact that extracting sodium from the waste water of a desalination plant is a lot less polluting than mining and refining lithium. Where this really comes in to play is in countries (and individuals) trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Australia is in the process of transitioning all our steel smelters to run on green electricity for this very reason, if we don't then in the future there'll be less demand for Aussie steel.

The other issue is insurance. Sodium Ion batteries don't get hot and catch fire no matter what you do to them. There isn't enough real world data to support this idea yet, at the moment it's all theoretical, but once there's real world evidence of the difference in safety factors then the insurance companies will all adjust their policies accordingly and most people simply won't be able to afford to use lithium.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I'm just wondering whatever those Canadian components are, whether impending tariffs may slow down local production of lithium batteries. That could get ugly on so many levels...while our Republican governor seems to struggle with kowtowing to Trump.

It seems Musk doesn't have a lot of options relative to this particular supply train. But then Trump already bit Musk in his arse in terms of legislation not favorable to electric vehicles. And their now rather public relationship that is less than cordial.

But then ultimately it's very clear who has the upper hand in such arguments. Wondering how long it will be before AI falls under this dark cloud of unnecessary controversy. It's certainly by no means an American monopoly across the planet.

Keep in mind musk Canadian citizen, got his education up here.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I think in the end circumstances are going to force his hand. There's two major economic factors.

One is the fact that extracting sodium from the waste water of a desalination plant is a lot less polluting than mining and refining lithium. Where this really comes in to play is in countries (and individuals) trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Australia is in the process of transitioning all our steel smelters to run on green electricity for this very reason, if we don't then in the future there'll be less demand for Aussie steel.

The other issue is insurance. Sodium Ion batteries don't get hot and catch fire no matter what you do to them. There isn't enough real world data to support this idea yet, at the moment it's all theoretical, but once there's real world evidence of the difference in safety factors then the insurance companies will all adjust their policies accordingly and most people simply won't be able to afford to use lithium.

We already have or are in the process of convertiung our steel Three major steel companies. Cheap power helps .

 

[Outdated]

We already have or are in the process of convertiung our steel Three major steel companies.

A lot of international mining corporations are going to go nuts in a few year's time too, part of our plan is to severely limit the amount of raw ore we ship to other countries. Instead we want to manufacture different types of steel ourselves and ship the value added product.

We had already legislated to end all gas exports by 2050 too, then Japan threw a spanner in to that because their entire economy relies on gas for production. If we cut their gas supplies it would be tantamount to economic murder. Thankfully Canada has started supplying Japan with gas and we're now back off the hook.

We've also been mining and stockpiling heavy rare earth ores but we're not selling any of that to anyone under any circumstances. This is also part of the plan for Australia's industrial future, when we're able to refine these rare earth metals ourselves then we'll start selling the value added product.

 

[Judge]

Keep in mind musk Canadian citizen, got his education up here.

Musk is a financial mercenary who will use any nation that helps him achieve whatever financial objectives he's pursuing. Presently he's a naturalized US citizen since 2002. Amusing to hear Trump threaten attempting to revoke naturalized citizens to be deported. Yet another way to roil the public.

Musk isn't terribly popular here now. With or without his money...the public is infuriated with him and his kids rifling through IRS records.

Take him back. I give him to you! ROTFLMAO....

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

He is not popular up here either. nobody wants Tesla cars.or trucks.