In a compelling discussion, Kenneth Cukkier, Deputy Executive Editor at The Economist, dives into the transformative effects of AI on the workforce. He highlights the tension between job displacement and the creation of new opportunities, urging workers to adapt by acquiring new skills. The conversation explores how technological advancements could enhance productivity while navigating automation's impact across various sectors. Cukkier also addresses wage inequality and gender disparities exacerbated by AI, setting the stage for larger societal questions.
Automation often leads to the creation of new tasks and jobs, challenging the assumption that widespread unemployment will result from AI.
Professionals need to identify what makes them distinctive and leverage new tools to remain competitive or adapt to new roles in the age of AI.
Deep dives
The Impact of AI on Jobs and the Workforce
The podcast episode explores the uncertain future of jobs and the workforce in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). It acknowledges that there will be structural changes in the jobs we do and how we do them, but the specific nature of those changes is unclear. The episode highlights how previous revolutions, such as the agricultural and industrial revolutions, have reinvented the way we work. It also discusses the potential fear of widespread automation leading to job loss and emphasizes that automation often leads to the creation of new tasks and jobs. The episode challenges the assumption that automation will lead to widespread unemployment and argues that the net number of jobs may actually increase. It presents examples such as automated teller machines (ATMs) in banking, where the number of bank tellers increased as a result of automation. The episode emphasizes the need for individuals to adapt and acquire new skills to thrive in a changing work environment.
The Shifting Nature of Work and the Role of AI
The podcast episode examines the shifting landscape of work in relation to advancements in technology, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). It explores how technology has historically benefited professionals and improved productivity. The episode discusses the potential of AI to enhance the abilities and productivity of professionals, allowing them to serve more clients or perform tasks more effectively. It also highlights cases where certain jobs, like models, may be significantly transformed or diminished due to digital advancements. The episode emphasizes that technology doesn't simply replace workers, but rather changes the nature of their work and often increases job opportunities. It suggests that professionals need to identify what makes them distinctive and leverage new tools to remain competitive or adapt to new roles.
Power Dynamics, Worker Influence, and Inequality in the AI Era
The podcast episode delves into the power dynamics and potential inequalities that may arise in the age of AI. It explores how companies can either use technology to oppress workers or to foster positive change and improve the quality of work. The episode emphasizes the importance of collaboration between businesses, workers, and governments in navigating the impact of technology on jobs and society. It highlights the potential for greater wage inequality, as companies with advanced technology systems tend to pay significantly more than their counterparts. The episode discusses the potential disproportionate effect of AI on working women, as many of the occupations they are employed in are susceptible to disruption and automation. It raises questions about who will benefit and who will be left behind in the AI revolution.
We revisit POWER TRIP, Intelligence Squared's new podcast investigating the past and future of AI. Carl Miller asks who will win and who will lose, as AI's capabilities begin to threaten jobs and livelihoods. Through the agricultural revolution, the industrial revolution, automation and globalisation, the workplace has been on the frontlines of changes across wider society. Featuring Kenneth Cukkier, Deputy Executive Editor at The Economist; James Bessen, economist and technologist at Boston University and Darren Jones MP, Chair of the House of Commons business select committee.
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