Or Luddites destroying machines that replace them while using machines as tools to make their labor easier.

The working class wants to automate labor to increase their free time.

The owner class wants to automate labor so they can rid themselves of the working class.

Society doesn't work because everyone is collaborating for the greater good. Society works because everyone generally cares very little about society and they care more about themselves. The net effect of everyone caring only about themselves is the result you have today.

That's a very western, libertarian way of looking at things. But even so, replacing workers en masse leads to high unemployment and civil unrest. If we get to the point of automating research scientists, then a whole lot of jobs can be automated.

Most of society and people on HN are from western society. I'd say it's more of a capitalist view point. Which is basically all of society you see today.

To ensure net benefit to society one must make policies that benefit individuals and hope that the network effects balance out and make society better overall. Expecting altruism is unrealistic.