Thanks to impressive computer advances, we are now seeing the dawn of a new era of human productivity enhancement. We have, for example, automated much of the work in farming and can now produce substantially more food on less land with significantly less labor. And if employed in a smart, thoughtful manner, advanced analytics in the agricultural industry can lessen the negative impact on the earth and environment while producing healthier food. But we still need farmers, although certainly a smaller number on an overall and per capita basis.

We have also automated manufacturing. We now produce a mind-boggling range of products from motor vehicles to toys with less labor, decreased pollution, and lower cost, yet also with greater flexibility and efficiency. We still, however, need factory floor teams and require human operators for much of the machinery.

Furthermore, we have automated much white-collar labor. Administrative assistants, operational planners, business...