LIVE: We Are Not Machines - with Sarah O'Connor
Summary
Tim Harford interviews Sarah O’Connor about her book *We Are Not Machines*, exploring how AI and automation are reshaping work. They discuss cautionary tales from Amazon warehouses, translators, and coders, contrasting these with unionized Swedish miners. The conversation highlights that technology’s impact depends on human choices, bargaining power, and governance, not just technical capability.
Topics discussed
Intro, ads, and the Luddite historical context
Sarah O'Connor on the myth of the Luddites
Warehouse automation: Amazon vs. human workers
Swedish mining: Automation with union power
Translators: AI degradation of creative work
Coders: AI as a tool for enrichment
AI's impact on language and future outlook
Q&A: Efficiency, workflows, and at-risk jobs
Q&A: AI progress, government response, and closing
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