Putting aside the fact this will absolutely be used to provide subpar care to poor and middle class people, while the rich continue to get human surgeons ... what you describe is not replacing surgeons. It is using robots to do some surgical tasks. If we're talking about career paths, your scenario does not make "surgeon" a bad path. |
It may make performing jobs faster such that fewer people are needed. |
NP, my son had a robotic surgery done to put a stent in his urinary system. It took like 3 months to schedule time on the robot (while he was in pain). But tiny incision and very minimal recovery. It was 6ish years ago, and even then was surgeon assisting the robot, not the other way around. And was done fast, for all the time we spent waiting to have it done. This is going to become more and more normal. One surgeon babysitting a robot doing 100 minimally invasive surgeries a day. |
LOL. |
Hair stylists |
You don’t sound very bright. This will mean there are fewer surgeons required overall, and the bottom tier surgeons will be robot operators which means much lower salaries. I also don’t think it will necessarily mean subpar care. It can reduce human error and lower months-long waiting periods. |
| Moravec’s Paradox. The least AI-replaceable jobs are the ones that rely on human motor skills or human social/emotional skills. Your quiet nerdy “individual contributor” kid is going to have trouble. (Assuming any of this pans out.) |
| Robot have mastered many human motor skills. |
Yep, I had a robotic hysterectomy done a few years ago. Very quick healing process after the surgery. |
| What about the trades? Plumbing, HVAC, etc. |
OP’s kid’s mind is too good for those. |
Assuming the robot is properly trained, I really can’t imagine how a human surgeon would be better. |
Seriously - there are a billion jobs that can't be replaced by AI. During the pandemic we found out exactly who - it's not a difficult thought exercise. AI can't build a house, teach a child, rock a baby, plumb a house, pump septic, dig a well, staff a grocery store, cut hair, clean a hospital, nurse at the bedside, etc. |
I mean we're already providing subpar care to poor and middle class people. |
OP said her kid didn’t want to do physical labor or medicine. Hard to conclude the issue is “feeling too good for that type of work” vs “not interested.” |