AI and the future of work: Experts Azeem Azhar and Adam Grant weigh in
Feb 3, 2024
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Tech expert Azeem Azhar and organizational psychologist Adam Grant discuss the impact of AI on the future of work and address the fears and challenges associated with it. They explore the rapid advancements in generative AI tools, the prevalence of AI conversations at Davos, and the challenges of being a CEO. They also discuss the pros and cons of job stability and address the brokenness of capitalism. The chapter concludes with the importance of asking people what they love to do.
Generative AI tools like chat GPT have the potential to increase productivity and revolutionize industries.
There is a need for more realistic conversations about AI's impact on society, economy, and the workforce.
Deep dives
AI and the Future of Work
Artificial intelligence (AI) is both an exciting opportunity and a potential risk as it rapidly advances. Generative AI tools like chat GPT and mid-journey have the potential to increase productivity and revolutionize various industries. However, there are concerns about job displacement and unequal access to AI technology. The pace of AI advancements has sparked debates about the future of work and whether AI will be a productivity booster or a job killer. The podcast discusses the importance of having mature and moderated conversations about AI's impacts to ensure a workforce that can thrive in the changing landscape.
The Surprising Progress in AI
The podcast highlights the rapid progress in AI technology, particularly due to the development of the Transformer architecture and the emergence of generative AI tools like chat GPT. Many CEOs now possess detailed knowledge about AI despite the technology's recent public availability. The unexpected speed of advancement raises questions about the future capabilities of AI, such as GPT-5, and the individualization of AI experiences based on personalized data. However, concerns are also raised about filtered information and potential loss of control over AI systems.
Balancing AI's Risks and Benefits
While existential risks associated with AI dominated discussions in the past, the podcast suggests a shift towards more practical concerns relating to copyright, regulation, employment, and workforce impact. The need for more realistic conversations about AI's effects on society and the economy is emphasized. The loss of faith in technology is highlighted as a danger, underscoring the importance of rebuilding trust and fostering civil discussions around AI's potential benefits and drawbacks. The podcast concludes with reflections on the polished and strategic manner in which AI experts like Sam Altman present themselves, noting the challenge of understanding their true motivations.
What does this new era of generative artificial intelligence mean for the future of work? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with tech expert Azeem Azhar and organizational psychologist Adam Grant on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to learn more about how this exciting and anxiety-inducing technology is already changing our lives, what comes next, and what the experts are still getting wrong about the most powerful technology to hit the workforce since the personal computer. The rapid advances in generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which has only been public for a little over a year, are stirring up excitement and deep anxieties about how we work and if we work. Artificial intelligence can potentially increase productivity and prosperity massively, but there are fears of job replacement and unequal access to technology. Will AI be the productivity booster CEOs hope for, the job killer employees fear?