Not for naught is there considerable anxiety out there about the future of work as AI displaces more and more jobs. For the increasing share of the population comprising parents to kids on the autism spectrum -- many of whom struggle in the workplace -- AI only heightens our fears.
I was just reading an article about Waymo (AKA Google)'s successful rollout of its robotaxis in initial markets (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix). I took pause when reading that users considered the following traits virtues: not having to make conversation with a driver or tip.
As we have retreated into our homes and ordering more and more online, we have fewer day to day interactions with other people. This is not good. Conversations with drivers -- especially when traveling -- ranks right up there with canvassing for votes as rare opportunities to enter into reasonably sustained dialogue with others. Talking to drivers is an intrinsic good, an opportunity to get outside one's bubble and hear from another. It's not like a rider needs more time with his phone while traveling away from home. Indeed, we all need more practice talking to and listening to others.
As to tipping, well, I read another article this morning about the spending sprees the big AI companies are going on to hire top talent. Zuckerberg is spending billions to buy very small companies in "acquihires." OpenAI is offering $100 million signing bonuses in trying to poach Meta employees. Wealth is pretty concentrated in the US. Tipping offers each of us an opportunity to consciously, mindfully, intentionally give a little to someone else. Tipping is a feature of commercial interactions, not a bug.
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