Lawmaker worries automation will lead to "hollowing out" middle class

Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said at an Axios event today that he's worried increased automation due to growth in machine learning will gut the middle class:

"Now I’m not one of these folks who think that all the jobs are going to disappear and we won’t have work," Peters said. “However, I am concerned that if you have a hollowing out of the middle class you may have just two types of jobs.”

Why it matters: Peters, the author of draft legislation meant to address the rise of self-driving cars, is at the frontline of this debate. But Congress has yet to act on renewed concerns about automation and job loss.