791: The Messy Intersection of AI, Work, and People, with Joanna Stern
Summary
Host Dave Stachowiak interviews journalist Joanna Stern about her year-long experiment using AI for nearly every task, detailed in her book *I Am Not a Robot*. They explore how AI augments rather than replaces human workers, citing customer service examples where technology handles routine tasks to free humans for complex interactions. Stern advises leaders to audit their roles to identify which tasks AI can automate, allowing employees to focus on higher-value, uniquely human work.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Joanna Stern's year with AI
Why a column series instead of a book?
Case Study: AI in customer service at Saatva
Managing AI agents and human employees
Replacing a research assistant with AI
The AI Applicability Score and task analysis
Using AI for first drafts and research
The value of struggle and human effort
Public resistance and AI adoption rates
Conclusion and recommended episodes
Listen ad-free on Castria