Techno-optimists like venture capitalist Peter Thiel point out that machines consume little (beyond electricity) while allowing us to produce vastly more, so their effects on human welfare must be unambiguously positive. Techno-pessimists like Robert Skidelsky fear that machines will wipe out so many jobs that governments will be forced to provide an income to all citizens.
风险投资家彼得·泰尔这样的技术乐天派指出机器（除电力外）很少消耗却能大幅提高效率，因此其对人类福祉产生的影响无疑将是积极的。而罗伯特·斯基德尔斯基那样的技术悲观派却担心机器将消灭太多就业机会，以至于政府将被迫向全民提供收入。