On this episode of Quality Time with MoreSteam, host Dan Swartwout welcomes Eric Olsen, Professor of Industrial Technology at Cal Poly State University. Eric spent 20 years in industry with companies like Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard before jumping into academia. Dan started the interview with a bunch of questions about Lean, but the conversation took a sharp turn into artificial intelligence territory. Eric shares how he's experimenting with AI for everything from writing to problem-solving. He uses it as his go-to learning tool. Of course, the big question looms: how do people find new ways to contribute when AI keeps getting better?" Eric tackles this head-on through his work with the Future of People at Work initiative, where different improvement methodologies team up to solve bigger challenges. Hear how one continuous improvement expert is using AI to revolutionize his own learning process!

In this episode, you will hear about:

2:04 - Eric's background

4:39 - Eric's time at The Ohio State University

6:00 - The recent Future of People at Work symposium

7:35 - The future of Future of People at Work

11:06 - Adding extra value in the age of AI

18:15 - Engaging with AI

22:47 - Students using AI

25:33 - Eric's question for Josh Howell, President of the Lean Enterprise Institute

Additional Resources:

Eric Olsen on LinkedIn

Future of People at Work

When AI Becomes Your Study Buddy with Eric Olsen