AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics

Lynn Thoman, a Columbia SIPA professor and founder of the Three Takeaways podcast, brings a cross-sector lens from academia, corporate strategy, and public service. She discusses how AI amplifies human judgment and creativity. She talks about shifting education toward curiosity and learning paths, the subtle risks from small model or data changes, and AI’s power to democratize knowledge and healthcare.

In this special discussion, Chris Caren, CEO of Turnitin, addresses how AI reshapes academic integrity and emphasizes genuine learning over mere credentials. Marni Baker Stein from Coursera highlights AI-driven personalization and micro-credentials that enhance global access to education. Dave Treat of Pearson explains AI's role in providing real-time study support and guiding career pathways. Lastly, Gary Bolles advocates for lifelong learning and essential skills like creativity and adaptability, stressing the need for education to remain human-centered.

Amit Bendov, co-founder and CEO of Gong, shares insights from his journey in launching this innovative revenue intelligence platform. He discusses the pivotal moment that highlighted CRM's shortcomings in explaining sales outcomes. Amit explains how Revenue AI transforms sales by analyzing conversations, enhancing seller performance, and reducing administrative tasks. He highlights the emotional toll of sales jobs and how AI can alleviate it, emphasizing the importance of trust, data security, and fostering an AI-first vision from the outset.

In this engaging discussion, Kimberly Williams, CEO of Absorb Software, reveals how AI is revolutionizing workplace learning by shifting from generic training to personalized experiences. With over 34 million employees benefiting from her platform, she emphasizes the importance of integrating learning into daily workflows. Kimberly also shares insights on empowering early-career talent, especially women, to focus on measurable contributions and growth. Additionally, she discusses the evolving role of L&D teams in training AI models and the significance of maintaining a strong company culture.

Henrik Werdelin, co-founder of BARK and Prehype, shares insights on blending AI with human connection in entrepreneurship. He believes authentic founder-user relationships are crucial as AI reshapes roles in companies. Henrik discusses the evolution from storytelling to 'storylistening' for better product development and cautions against a homogenized approach to AI-driven startups. He emphasizes that while AI can speed up innovation, it should augment human interaction, not replace it, ensuring deeper connections in business.

Kelly Jones, Chief People Officer at Cisco, spearheads the people strategy for over 84,000 employees. She discusses the pivotal role of trust as the currency of work, shaping AI strategies and workplace culture. Kelly emphasizes the importance of safe experimentation with AI and defines the traits of 'super leaders' who blend empathy and technology. She advocates for using AI to automate administrative tasks, allowing humans to focus on creativity and connection, while highlighting Cisco's commitment to responsible AI use and ongoing upskilling for future roles.

In this discussion with Eric Cheng, co-founder and CEO of Jobright, listeners learn about the transformative power of AI in job matching. Eric reveals how interviewing 150 young professionals led him to create a personalized career support platform. He critiques traditional keyword-based job searches and explains how Jobright acts as a career coach, emphasizing the importance of trust in AI hiring. The conversation also covers emerging AI-native roles and the need for continuous learning in an evolving workplace.

In this conversation with Kate O’Neill, a tech humanist and author, the focus is on the intersection of AI and meaningful work. Kate shares insights on how tech humanism guides the design of human-centered AI systems. She addresses the fear of automation, urging workers to view AI as an opportunity to enhance their roles. Leadership's role in fostering psychologically safe environments for experimentation is emphasized. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the importance of embedding purpose and meaning in the workplace as automation evolves.

In this discussion, Sid Sheth, CEO and co-founder of d-Matrix, shares insights from his extensive semiconductor experience. He emphasizes that AI inference represents a transformative opportunity, driving productivity unlike any previous tech shift. Sid explains how more efficient, smaller models are key to AI's scalability and why a talent shortage could impede progress. He also discusses the need for purpose-built AI chips and highlights D-Matrix's innovative approach to integrating into existing data centers.

This special reflection dives into how AI is reshaping the workplace. Experts discuss the importance of human-centered skills like empathy and leadership. AI is viewed as a co-pilot for enhancing productivity, not a replacement. A focus on sustainable AI systems is emphasized over unrealistic forecasts. Trust within organizations is crucial, aligning incentives for mutual success. The redefining of workplace greatness is explored, with automation creating 'super workers.' Finally, AI's role in personalized learning is highlighted, freeing educators to enhance connections.