Wages

ATMs didn't replace tellers — they took over the repetitive work so tellers could do more. The same could be true of AI: less about replacing whole roles, more about letting people take on more and be more productive.

Nominal wages are up, but after adjusting for inflation, most workers have barely broken even. Lower-income households are falling further behind.

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009. State minimums range up to $16.28, but even the highest ones just match 1968's purchasing power.