The Second Machine Age

In The Second Machine Age, MIT's Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee reveal the technological forces driving the reinvention of our lives and economy. They argue that we must must learn to race with machines as they are infiltrating the workplace at an increasing pace, replacing many white collar jobs. Drawing on years of research, they identify the best strategies for working with robots.

In recent years, computers have learned to diagnose diseases, drive cars, write clean prose and win game shows. Advances like these have created unprecedented economic bounty but in their wake median income has stagnated and employment levels have fallen. Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee reveal the technological forces driving this reinvention of the economy and chart a path towards future prosperity. Businesses and individuals, they argue, must learn to race with machines. Drawing on years of research, Brynjolfsson and McAfee identify the best strategies and policies for doing so. A fundamentally optimistic book, The Second Machine Age will radically alter how we think about issues of technological, societal and economic progress.