The October 2024 U.S. dockworkers' strike highlighted fears of automation reducing jobs by up to 50%. While boosting efficiency, AI and automation disrupt traditional roles, sparking concerns of a "digital Malthusian trap," where technological advances outpace workers' ability to adapt.

*Mini Experiment Reveals AI Progress*: In June, leading AI models miscounted the "r"s in *strawberry*—all answered "2" instead of the correct "3." By September, OpenAI’s new **o1** model got it right, showing improved reasoning, introspection, and even how it frames corrections.