THE CLOCKMAKER’S TALE AND OTHER STORIES plus a guest post by Ian Williams & a giftcard giveaway

July 21, 2021
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Guest Post

I’m sure we’ve all seen the headlines, ‘AI to replace X-number of jobs by 20-something.’ It is a concern that has become harder and harder to ignore as the numbers have crept up. Current predictions suggest the number may be worryingly high in the near future. The World Economic Forum (WEF) expects that automation will supplant around 85 million jobs by 2025.

It is the same story in many different job sectors, from manufacturing to banking. The benefits of AI within the workplace are now almost too much for businesses to ignore. But, if that is the case, then what will come of the humans currently in these jobs? That is something the governments of the world will have to come to grips with before we are all replaced by machines.

This is the theme of the title story The Clockmaker’s Tale: and other stories. Set in a small Clockmaker’s shop surrounded by the future we have all imagined. There’s flying cars, climate change, and across the road from George Sebastian Philips’ shop are technology stores selling all the latest gadgets. And yet, he makes a humble living making physical clocks.

As with the predicted invasion of the AI workforce, technology has found a way into George’s world too, this time disguised as a tool to help with his job. The tool in question is called a ‘Work Buddy’. A salesman convinces George to give the device a go. It promises to allow a person’s body to continue working while their mind is asleep. It is exactly what George needs.

Isn’t that something we would all want? To keep up with consumerism we must all adapt. Our challenge is to keep up with that upward trend of supply and demand. And if we can’t, then the obvious next step is to remove the human entirely. Capitalism demands that businesses stay ahead of the game, always changing, rebranding, selling, for fear of a swift decline. AI can compete in that world perhaps better than we can.

So, what is the future of work for us? To compete against a growing machine workforce are we to become more like them? After all, if no new jobs are created as old ones switch to automation, existing workers will still need work. Then, as The Clockmaker’s Tale asks, why not augment yourself and work as many hours as any robot? Never again work until you can’t keep your eyes open. Let AI control your body while you sleep. What could possibly go wrong?

The world of work is set to change in a big way in the not-too-distant future. Here’s hoping humans aren’t forgotten in the process. Otherwise, we may all be tempted to try out a Work Buddy.

The Clockmaker’s Tale

by Ian Williams

GENRE: Science Fiction

BLURB:

In The Clockmaker’s Tale: and other stories, Ian Williams takes us to the near future and beyond. From a moon base where androids conduct experiments on human test subjects, to futuristic tours of the ocean depths that hide a terrible secret; from a society governed by harsh rule of law that is enforced by AI, to a humble clockmaker tempted by the promise of increased productivity through technological augmentation.

Covering issues such as environmental decay, the end of facts and proven truths, our growing waste problem, and humanity’s tendency to divide when we should come together, this collection of six science fiction stories relates as much to our time as it does to the many possible futures.

Excerpt

Returning to his briefcase, Alexander produced a card from an outside pocket. “Here,” he said, holding it between two of his fingers.

George took it and looked it over, now realising there was a sales pitch to follow. He’s better at this than I am, he had to admit. At the top of the textured card was the name of a company he was certain he knew but couldn’t quite place. “ACC?”

“Adaptive Cognition and Cybernetics. We specialise in cutting-edge, next-generation, technology. Our latest product was made for people just like you, who need more hours in a day than the good Lord provides.”

I left my work for this? George was less than impressed. “Thank you, but I…”

“Before you say no, how about I show you what I’m talking about?” Alexander picked up his briefcase and walked to the counter, where he placed it down and clicked open the catches. He kept his back turned until he was ready to present his product.

When he turned, George was immediately drawn forward, to inspect the object himself. He was fascinated by the curved design. It had a snowy-white casing, with delicately printed calligraphy underlined by a sweeping blue line, and a tiny, built-in, LED screen. It appeared as well-made as any of his clocks. Such a high degree of engineering, yet it remained a simple-looking thing.

“This,” Alexander said, not quite ready to hand over the device, “is our latest model. It’s called a Work Buddy.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ian Williams is a Science Fiction writer from the UK. He lives in a small town not far from London. Ian had a short career in the UK Court Service but was forced to quit that job when his medical condition worsened. Now, from the comfort of his wheelchair, he writes the stories he has always wanted to read. His writing spans lightyears of space, to near-future Earths; from small changes to society, to entirely new civilisations.

Author Website: HOME | Ian Williams Sci-Fi Author (ianwilliamsauthor.com)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ian-Williams-Author-Page-1552239548176515/

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