The future of AI at work
The Future of Everything
Intro
This chapter launches a new Q&A segment, inviting listeners to discuss the impact of AI on productivity and employee skills. It emphasizes the dual nature of technology's efficiency and the potential skills erosion among workers.
Arvind Karunakaran studies the intersections of work, AI, and organizational behavior. He says AI can enhance speed and productivity in the short run, yet degrade skills over time. But it is in organizational power dynamics where AI has had its most marked impact, he says, telling host Russ Altman about situations in law firms where AI has fostered tension between paralegals and junior attorneys. It’s AI and the modern workplace on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything Podcast.
Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your quest. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu.
Episode Reference Links:
- Stanford Profile: Arvind Karunakaran
Connect With Us:
- Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
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Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Russ Altman introduces guest Arvind Karunakaran, a professor of management science and engineering at Stanford University.
(00:02:47) Productivity vs. Skill Development
The broader impact of AI on workplace productivity and the potential skill loss among workers.
(00:04:39) New Skills for the AI Era
Whether new skill sets required by AI tools are emerging or if it's still too early to tell.
(00:06:17) AI and Power Dynamics
How AI is influencing authority and power dynamics in the workplace.
(00:09:16) Challenges of Role Re-Design with AI
The need for systemic changes in job roles and organizational structures to accommodate AI.
(00:11:02) Accountability and AI in Decision-Making
The complexities of accountability when AI is involved in decision-making processes.
(00:15:14) Platforms and Power Dynamics
The role of platforms as intermediaries and their impact on authority and power dynamics.
(00:20:28) AI Experimentation in the Workplace
How organizations are experimenting with AI and the importance of trust in these processes.
(00:23:29) Rethinking Training for AI Integration
The necessity of innovative training methods to effectively integrate AI in workplace settings.
(00:25:30) Management Strategies for AI Adoption
Ways managers can approach AI integration in their organizations to foster productivity and innovation
(00:28:12) AI in Gig Work Platforms
Challenges and opportunities AI presents within gig work platforms.
(00:32:20) Conclusion
Connect With Us:
Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon
Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook
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