What’s Going on in the Workforce
“…as many as 45% of the activities individuals are paid to perform can be automated by adapting currently demonstrated technologies.” h/t to reader Andy Stern for sending this interesting new paper on the potential short-term impacts of automation in a variety of industries. Spoiler alert: “The hourly wage rate alone is not a strong predictor of automatibility.” Yes, high-wage workers, they’re coming for your tasks too.
Thanks to the Guardian for introducing me to the term “Human Cloud,” in this great roundup about the possible futures of work.
Geeking Out
The effort by Black Lives Matter activists to collect info on police union contracts has resulted in this amazing website.
Reputation, reputation, reputation
Add Udacity founder Sebastian Thrun to the list of people mysteriously kicked off Uber (as a driver), despite having above-standard ratings.
Sharing, Solidarity & Sustainability
The NYC city council just forced AirBnB to release data on how much hosts are earning—and it looks like a significant majority of homeowners are earning big bucks from renting out homes full time.
Can we use the freezing cold vacuum of space to cool buildings in the summer, instead of AC?
Organizing Theory
Will linking to Facebook make your driver’s license more legit? Interesting piece about what kinds of changes public institutions may have to make, to deal with digital identity & online presence.
Want a quick video explainer of how income inequality & wealth inequality keep getting worse? Here you go.
From Partners
In DC tomorrow morning? Head on over to the Brookings Institute for this discussion, “Modernizing labor laws in the gig economy.”