What happens to work when AI can do more of the things humans have always been paid to do? And if your job can eventually be done by AI or a robot, where does your value as a person actually come from? In this episode of How to Be a Person, Giuliano Grimaudo sits down with Mickey Fitch-Collins, PhD, a Human Skills Facilitator at Learnit, to explore the future of work, artificial intelligence, automation, and the uniquely human skills that may become even more important as technology advances. The conversation begins with a question that seems simple: What do you do? For most people, that question immediately becomes a question about work. But Mickey points out that a job is only one part of a person. She's also a mom, partner, reader, cook, bass fisherman, and plenty of other things that don't fit neatly onto a résumé. That leads into a larger conversation about work-life balance and whether "balance" is even the right goal. Mickey and Giuliano discuss work-life integration, remote work, and how the pandemic challenged assumptions about where, when, and how work needs to happen. From there, the conversation turns toward AI and the enormous changes it could bring to the workplace. As artificial intelligence and robotics become capable of handling more administrative, operational, and even physical work, what happens to the people currently doing those jobs? Mickey and Giuliano explore both sides of that question, including the very real uncertainty people feel about AI replacing jobs, but also the opportunities that could emerge if technology frees humans from work that consumes enormous amounts of time and energy. Maybe the skills that matter most in the future will be the things that are much harder to automate: creativity, relationships, empathy, communication, critical thinking, decision-making, and our ability to solve meaningful problems together. Which begs the question: If technology eventually allows people to spend significantly less of their lives working simply to survive, what would they actually do with the time? For people who have spent decades defining themselves by their careers, that possibility can feel threatening. But it could also create an opportunity to reconsider what work is for, what makes a life meaningful, and what humans can contribute when productivity is no longer the only measure of value. Because if AI can do your job, the more interesting question may be what it could never replace about you. And if you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe to drop in on more of these conversations. https://www.learnit.com/mickey How to Be a Person: https://howtobeaperson.co Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/jewleeahno Life insurance: https://life.howtobeaperson.co Peaceful Profits: https://author.howtobeaperson.co Want to be a guest on How to Be a Person? Send Giuliano Grimaudo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17374246500089236b5dfbb6b
