I did quite a lot of work on artificial intelligence in the 1980s. Back then we thought our expert systems would routinise a lot of banking, accounting and management to software pretty much anyone could drive. What I found myself working in more and more was the embodiment of more 'working class' skills - as in the robot factories making cars.
Knowing some of the technical difficulties, I still believe most business skills could and should be routinised to computing. I find it obnoxious to have to invest through brokers, have no wish to meet bank staff or pay fees to life insurance or pension brokers. I'd be content with a full spread of investments I could be assured worked to ethical principles. Most of the research I've done or read is pretty clear we get negative value from supposedly skilled investment people because the fees they charge are so high. What if it's all a con (I suspect it is) and most of us would be better off with a routinised system? I don't mean getting rid of banks so we end up with money in mattresses. What would such a minimal system be?
