The Second Machine Age

The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies
AuthorErik Brynjolfsson
Andrew McAfee
LanguageEnglish
Publication date
2014
Preceded byRace Against the Machine 

The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies is a 2014 book by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee that is a continuation of their book Race Against the Machine. They argue that the Second Machine Age is an era where machines can automate or augment cognitive tasks that previously only humans could do. They contrast this with what they call the "First Machine Age", or Industrial Revolution, when machines did the same for physical tasks.[1] Continuing the theme of their earlier book, they advise people to "race with the machine, not against it", that is to seek to have machines become complements, not substitutes for humans.[2]

Some examples that the book cites include "software that grades students' essays more objectively, consistently and quickly than humans" and "news articles on Forbes.com about corporate earnings previews" — "all generated by algorithms without human involvement."[3]

Synopsis

The authors summarize the contents of their book's 15 chapters[4] on pages 11 and 12 of the book itself.

The book is divided into three sections: Chapters 1 through 6 describe "the fundamental characteristics of the second machine age," based on many examples of modern use of technology. These include a world that is increasingly digital, exponential and combinatorial, paralleling the themes in Brynjolfsson's 2013 TED talk.[5]

Chapters 7 through 11 describe economic impacts of technology in terms of two concepts the authors call "bounty" and "spread." What they call "bounty" is their attempt to measure the benefits of new technology in ways reaching beyond such measures as GDP, which they say is inadequate. They use "spread" as a shorthand way to describe the increasing inequality that is also resulting from widespread new technology. They highlight three main drivers: skill-biased technical change (increases wages of more skilled workers relative to less skilled workers), the increase in capital income relative to labor income, and superstar effects.)[6]

Finally, in chapters 12 through 15, the authors prescribe some policy interventions that could enhance the benefits and reduce the harm of new technologies.

Reception

The book became a New York Times Bestseller[7] and was shortlisted for the Financial Times Best Business Book of the Year Award.[8] According to Technology Review "Its findings are relevant not just for business, but also for government, workers, and families."[9] The Washington Post says that its strength is how it weaves micro and macroeconomics with insights from other disciplines into an accessible story. It says that the weaknesses of the book are that its policy prescriptions are "straight from the talking points that tech executives have been peddling for years on their visits to the capital", even though they are "perfectly reasonable".[10]

References

  1. ^ "If I Had a Hammer". The New York Times. January 11, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  2. ^ Brynjolfsson, Erik; McAfee, Andrew (2014-01-20). The Second Machine Age: Work Progress And Prosperity In A Time Of Brilliant Technologies (chapter 12: "Learning to Race with the Machines"). W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 187–193. ISBN 978-0-393-23935-5.
  3. ^ Bill Teuber (January 22, 2014). "The Coming of the Second Machine Age". The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  4. ^ Brynjolfsson, Erik; McAfee, Andrew (20 January 2014). The Second Machine Age: Table of Contents. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393239355. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  5. ^ Brynjolfsson, Erik (2013-04-23). The key to growth? Race with the machines. Retrieved 2026-03-14 – via www.ted.com.
  6. ^ Brynjolfsson, Erik; McAfee, Andrew (2014-01-20). The Second Machine Age: Work Progress And Prosperity In A Time Of Brilliant Technologies. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-23935-5.
  7. ^ Zimmerman, Leda (Spring 2015). "The Second Machine Age: Technological advances will reshape the global economy". MIT for a Better World. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  8. ^ Graphics, FT Interactive. "The Second Machine Age by Erik Brynjolfsson, Andrew McAfee". FT Business book of the year award. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  9. ^ TR Staff (February 26, 2014). "How Machines Are Advancing at an Exponential Rate". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  10. ^ "Review: 'The Second Machine Age,' by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
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