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.