I read this article in Wired when it came out in print, and I'd like to clarify that the point of the article is not a hypothetical situation where 7 out of 10 people lose their jobs. The article explores the advent of a proliferation of robots capable of performing complicated tasks. The main point is that we shouldn't be afraid of them "taking our jobs." The farm example is a great way of looking at it. Back two hundred years ago, most people did do manual labor, often on the farm. But technology advanced and slowly people left the farm. But with this change came new purpose for humans. We developed more complicated and important jobs, ones that required skill and use of more refined skills. The analogy is used in the article. Robots performing tasks will lead humanity into more important, more meaningful occupations. I see this as a good thing.
It's a great thing for humanity, but it's the transition that's the hard part. New jobs are being created all the time, stuff we wouldn't have imagined 10 or even 5 years ago. But these are highly specialized jobs that require years of training. When people get laid off because their old jobs become obsolete, it's expensive and takes a lot of time to go back to school and learn a new skill. Some skills are obsolete shortly after graduating or before they even graduate. I went to college 7 years ago and everything they taught me is useless now.