Technological Utopias and the Reality of Exploited Labor

With Canada recently announcing the deal with Chinese electric cars, Tesla’s Elon Musk's title as the richest man in the world is on a shaky road for competition. When you ask Tesla owner Musk what he thinks about poor people, he would most likely conclude that with his ongoing technological innovations, the poor people will be helped since they don’t have to work as hard. But the real question lies in getting to that point: is it ethical to exploit others for a hypothetical future? 

The Tesla Truth

The least you would expect from a billionaire is for their workers to get fairly compensated for their hard work, but unfortunately 60% of cobalt mining, needed to power electric vehicles, is from Congo and exploits workers, including children, into dangerous labor conditions for one or two dollars per day. These cobalt materials end up going to the richest companies in the world, including Tesla to power electric vehicle batteries. 14 Congolese families filed a lawsuit against Apple, Google, Tesla, and Microsoft for damages and deaths of child minors from Congo. 

Self-Driving Prophecies 

Tesla is known for its top-of-the-line self-driving car. But transparency is in question when just last week Tesla was hit with another lawsuit after fatally crashing and killing 4 people and a dog. They trusted Elon’s word about self-driving features being safer than regular driving. Not to mention the Tesla shareholders have sued Elon Musk for concealing the risks associated with self-driving robotaxis. Elon needs to be careful about how he markets his products and own up to the transparency of the limitations of the Tesla. 

A Bright Future for the World

Maybe there are ways AI technology and innovation can advance without having to exploit labor workers. 

People fear that if the wage gap lowers, then people will not get fairly compensated for their work. But it’s really just that the wealthiest people have convinced enough that it’s better for the economy for them to have the bulk of the pie. Here are some practical steps society can take to reduce the wage distribution gap so that congenial workers are getting paid living wages.

1. Buy less, buy better

2. Ask companies direct questions (companies track emails, complaints, comments). 

3. Push for exploitation laws and policy 

The largest companies and the wealthiest work with politicians as they both provide each other benefit, power, and money. But this can change if enough people start to care.

Free Way to Start

You do not have to buy a whole lot to show companies that you care about change. One easy way change you can make that is free is simply using a better search engine.

Ecosia

• Uses 100% of profits to plant trees

• Runs on renewable energy

• Minimal Data tracking

If technology and AI advance enough then nobody will be having to work might be an easy narrative to sell. But when it comes at the expense of current human toll, then what makes the certainty that when the technology advances the exploitative practices and greed will dissipate. What are the chances it will not transfer to another task and with another excuse. The act should happen now.