Well, smashing the machinery certainly didn't get them their jobs back. Worrying about the machinery didn't get them any new jobs either. I guess some of them fell destitute because they were too angry or unfortunate, some others got jobs doing something else, and others got jobs operating the machines that had replaced them.
There are winners and losers, but it's absurd to think that we should avoid progress to protect jobs.
My preferred method for ensuring a just transition during times of technological progress (and to eliminating involuntary unemployment generally) is a Federal Job Guarantee http://www.jobguarantee.org/
Personally, the advances in AI have just made my job easier and allowed me to get more done. I don't see that trend changing either.
There are winners and losers, but it's absurd to think that we should avoid progress to protect jobs.
My preferred method for ensuring a just transition during times of technological progress (and to eliminating involuntary unemployment generally) is a Federal Job Guarantee http://www.jobguarantee.org/
Personally, the advances in AI have just made my job easier and allowed me to get more done. I don't see that trend changing either.