In last week’s guest blog post, adaptation expert Amber Mac discussed the capacity of Artificial Intelligence to change future societies. This week, we look at three additional Lavin speakers—economist Daron Acemoglu, journalist Derek Thompson, and Rise of the Robots author Martin Ford, who each apply their diverse thinking to the timely question of the future of work.
“There’s a good chance that an algorithm may someday be able to learn to do much, or all, of your job.”
— Martin Ford, Rise of the Robots
Amber Mac’s keynote Artificial Intelligence: A Day in Your Life, vividly shows how AI is going to change the way we live, work, and play over the next few years. Using the latest research, engaging visuals, and practical examples, Mac takes audiences on 24-hour journey through a day in the year 2025, sharing the impact that this technology will have on everything—including the ways we manage work (e.g., business automation). Mac argues that for businesses to survive, they must begin adapting to the AI revolution today.
A Senior editor at The Atlantic, Derek Thompson’s talks investigate the future at large—from the world that the Millennial generation will come to lead, to the future of paid media. Thompson is at the cutting edge of cultural shifts to come, as he demonstrated in his Atlantic cover story, “A World Without Work.” In it, Thompson conveys the concerns we may have about the future of work, while also depicting a world that could be more economically just for all.
In Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future, futurist and software developer Martin Ford delved into both the past and future of industry, pointing to history in order to understand both the similarities and differences we’re facing. In his associated keynotes, Ford offers a realistic view of what the future of work—and your place in it—will look like. Increasingly, new machines will be able to take care of themselves, making fewer jobs necessary. Will basic, guaranteed income be implemented? How will education and job preparation reflect our changing society? His exciting talks are both an exploration of this new technology and a call to arms to address its implications.