Futureproof Book Review

Kevin Roose’s “Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation” is an essential survival guide in an era of rapid technological advances and increasing automation. Roose, a technology columnist for The New York Times, presents a compelling argument on how we, as individuals and as a society, can navigate and remain relevant in a world where machines can do a rapidly expanding number of tasks.

The backbone of Futureproof lies in its nine practical rules that Roose articulates. These rules provide a roadmap for anyone seeking to ‘futureproof’ themselves against the relentless march of technology and automation.

1. Be Surprising, Social, and Scarce: Roose emphasizes the importance of unpredictability, creativity, and our social lives, which are hard for machines to replicate. He highlights the importance of human connection and communication skills and stresses that machines can’t replicate genuine human interaction.
2. Resist Machine Drift: As automation and tools like recommendation engines improve, it will be easier to let machines take over more of our lives. We should resist that whenever we reasonably can.
3. Demote Your Devices: Roose argues that our devices work best for activities that are still inherently social, like voice or video calls. We should spend less time on things that don’t involve any human interaction.
4. Leave Hand Prints: The humanity in your work is what truly matters. Consider if you leave a uniquely human touch in your work that a machine can’t easily replicate.
5. Don’t Be An Endpoint: If your job primarily involves taking direction from automatically generated sources, then your job is most at risk of being automated. Think of roles like Amazon warehouse workers, call center employees, etc.
6. Treat AI Like a Chimp Army: Today’s AI systems can follow carefully tuned instructions well but are potentially harmful when ambiguity is involved. We should be careful not to give them too much power too quickly.
7. Build Big Nets and Small Webs: Here, Roose refers more to how society should adapt. “Big Nets” refer to big safety nets like robust unemployment insurance programs and Universal Basic Income. “Small Webs” refer to the web of relationships that we should maintain that are local and add a lot of bespoke value to a relatively small number of people.
8. Learn Machine Age Humanities: Roose refers to some new skills humans should hone to thrive in an age of increasing automation. This includes things like the ability to filter out misinformation and how to focus with near-constant distractions.
9. Support the Rebels: Find ways to support lawmakers and activists working to reign in the excesses of the most influential tech companies.

The book contains captivating narratives, interviews, and research findings. Roose does an excellent job of balancing storytelling with data-driven analysis, compellingly exploring the challenges and opportunities that automation presents.

“Futureproof” is optimistic, emphasizing human traits that machines can’t easily replicate and providing practical advice on nurturing these characteristics. However, the book might have benefitted from an even deeper discussion on systemic solutions to the challenges posed by automation, such as policy changes or educational reforms.

One of the book’s strengths is Roose’s clear and accessible writing style. He successfully takes a complex subject and makes it understandable for a broad audience, weaving together personal anecdotes, real-life examples, and insightful commentary.

Ultimately, “Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation” is a thought-provoking and practical guide for navigating the digital age. Roose’s nine rules serve as a strategic blueprint for leveraging our uniquely human traits in a world of increasing automation. Despite the daunting prospect of an automated future, the book leaves readers feeling hopeful and better prepared for this unpredictable future.