It would be all well and good if either better jobs came to replace he drudgery of old (honestly, worked in light industrial and plastics so I can't imagine anyone doing the work if they could get a better paying job with fewer hours) or that the over all price of goods dropped to reflect the actual material intensity of production. But neither has occurred, especially in former industrial centers in the US. Until that happens the benefit of automation will always go to those who own the majority of the companies in question. Which is why I think they either need to be taxed or their means of production held in common ownership by the state.