“Technology, AI, and automation are thus both symptoms of, and causes of, increasingly lousy work conditions for truckers.” Since truckers in the US are paid by the mile, many truckers work upwards of 60 hours a week to earn a livable wage. This is even more true now that technology tracks when truckers are driving and how many miles they’ve driven. Truckers drive for longer to earn more money lost to waiting time during unloading, often causing them to become sleepy on the job and becoming more prone to accidents. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
