How Automation and Artificial Intelligence Strips us of our Humanity

In my most recent post, I offered the idea that the purpose of Artificial Intelligence should be to support this idea of Ikigai (生き甲斐): A reason for being. Melody Wilding wrote a Medium article that may serve as a good introduction to the topic: "The Japanese Concept'Ikigai' is a Formula for Happiness and Meaning". Wilding makes an astute observation that Ikigai "involves a commitment of time and belief, perhaps to a particular cause, skill, trade, or group of people." If you examine Ikigai closely, you will realize that it revolves around the central idea of the importance of work. The goal of Automation and AI, in contrast, is precisely the elimination of work.