Marx and the Robots: Networked Production, AI and Human Labour

This collection of essays examines the impact of automation on capitalist production, focusing on digital aspects such as agriculture, robotics, and crowdworking platforms. It offers a sober materialist reflection on 20th-century Marxist predictions and critiques Platform Capitalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 20 February 2022
Publisher: Pluto Press

The recent discourse surrounding automation in Marxist circles has been overtaken by breathless techno-pessimist dystopias and imaginative visions of automated luxury communism. This collection of essays, featuring both established veterans of the field and emerging voices, offers a refreshingly sober and materialist perspective on recent technological advancements within capitalist production. Spanning a wide range of digital aspects that have permeated our work and daily lives, the book explores topics such as the digitalization of agriculture, the role of robotics in manufacturing, and the labor dynamics on crowdworking platforms. It delves into the question of whether 20th-century Marxist predictions of the 'workerless factory' are materializing, or if they remain mere speculative projections. Moreover, it seeks to understand and critique the emerging phenomenon of 'Platform Capitalism' from a Marxist lens.

Packed with rich empirical, theoretical, and historical material, this book serves as an essential guide for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of our digital world. It provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between technology, labor, and capital, challenging readers to reassess our current economic and social structures and explore alternative paths toward a more equitable and sustainable future.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745344379