Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly reshaping the world of work, simultaneously automating certain tasks and augmenting others. This dual nature means that AI is neither simply a job killer nor an outright job creator, but rather a force that transforms job roles by eliminating some tasks while creating new, more valuable ones. For instance, an office assistant’s role might see scheduling meetings fully automated, but tasks involving data interpretation and strategic decisions still rely on human judgment. Research analyzing millions of job postings from 2020 to 2025 reveals that skills associated with automation, such as basic data entry and routine scheduling, are declining sharply, while skills linked to augmentation, like critical thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management, are on the rise. Highlights 🤖 AI acts as a dual force in the workplace, both automating and augmenting tasks simultaneously. 📉 Demand for skills tied to routine, automatable tasks is declining sharply. 📈 Skills related to critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal management are increasing in demand. 👥 AI impacts workers unevenly, creating opportunities for some while increasing vulnerability for others. 🧑‍💼 26.5 million workers have high AI exposure but strong capacity to adapt and thrive. ⚠️ 6.1 million workers face high exposure but low capacity to adapt, risking widening inequalities. 🛠️ Companies must go beyond AI adoption to redesign jobs, invest in training, and enable humans to work effectively alongside AI. Key Insights 🤖 AI’s Dual Impact Requires a Balanced Perspective: AI does not simply replace human labor nor does it only enhance it. Instead, it transforms job roles by automating routine tasks and augmenting complex, human-centered activities. This nuanced understanding helps organizations and workers prepare for a blended future of collaboration with AI, rather than fearing outright job loss or assuming guaranteed job creation. 📊 Labor Market Data Confirms Skill Polarization: Analysis of millions of job postings highlights a clear trend: skills exposed to automation are rapidly losing demand, while those tied to augmentation are increasing. This polarization signals a need for workforce development strategies centered on critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and adaptability—skills that AI cannot easily replicate. 🔄 Jobs Are Being Rewritten, Not Erased: The example of an office assistant demonstrates that jobs evolve rather than vanish. Automation takes over predictable tasks like scheduling, while humans focus on interpreting AI outputs, making strategic decisions, and managing relationships—activities requiring judgment and emotional intelligence. This redefinition of job roles is crucial for workers’ continued relevance. ⚖️ Unequal Exposure and Adaptability Create Workforce Divides: The labor force is divided into groups with markedly different risks and opportunities regarding AI. Workers with transferable skills and economic buffers can adapt and benefit, while those with fewer resources and skills are vulnerable. This divide risks exacerbating existing social inequalities, especially among older workers and women in clerical roles. 💼 Strategic Workforce Planning Is Essential: Companies must move beyond viewing AI as a mere cost-cutting tool. Instead, they should leverage AI to enhance productivity and elevate human contribution. This involves transparent communication about AI’s role, fostering fairness and employee input, and emphasizing skill development and job redesign that complement AI capabilities. 🎯 Training Must Be Task-Specific and Forward-Looking: Investing in targeted, task-specific training that builds durable human skills like communication, leadership, and critical thinking is vital. These skills not only complement AI but also provide workers with adaptability in a rapidly changing labor market, ensuring resilience against future technological disruptions. 🤝 Human-AI Collaboration Is the Future: The evolving work landscape requires humans to adopt a mindset of curiosity and collaboration with AI tools. By embracing AI as an augmenting partner rather than a threat, workers can unlock greater productivity and creativity, making work more meaningful and impactful. Organizations and individuals alike must cultivate this synergy to thrive in the AI-augmented economy. #AI #FutureOfWork #Automation #Augmentation #WorkforceResilience OUTLINE: 00:00:00 - The Dual Nature of AI in the Workplace 00:00:41 - Inside One Role — How Tasks Get Rewritten 00:01:23 - Evidence — Automation and Augmentation in Data 00:02:13 - Who Is Most Affected? — A Tale of Two Workforces 00:02:59 - Redesigning Work and How Workers Can Thrive

This research explores how artificial intelligence is simultaneously automating routine tasks and augmenting complex human capabilities within the same occupations. While many high-income professionals possess the financial resources and transferable skills to adapt to these shifts, a significant group of administrative and clerical workers faces high exposure with limited support. This bifurcation of vulnerability suggests that AI is not simply replacing jobs but is fundamentally reconfiguring work content and skill requirements. Organizations can manage this transition by implementing transparent communication, work redesign, and targeted training programs. Ultimately, this research argues for proactive policy and organizational strategies to build long-term resilience as AI reshapes the labor market.

In this HCI Webinar, I talk with Tammy Watchorn about what it takes to become a "Change Ninja"! Tammy Watchorn is an experienced change management specialist who honed her expertise through years in the public sector, where she navigated complex organizational challenges. After encountering numerous obstacles to innovation, she developed a strategic approach to change management that she calls the "Change Ninja" methodology—focusing on subtle, effective techniques that eliminate barriers and resistance. As the author of "The Change Ninja Handbook," Tammy offers a unique, gamified approach to change management, helping professionals overcome workplace resistance through practical, often humorous strategies. Following a significant personal challenge, she applied her professional expertise to her own circumstances, demonstrating the universal applicability of her methods. This experience inspired her second book, "The Change Ninja Returns, and this time it's personal," scheduled for release in Autumn 2024. Tammy's work combines neuroscience principles with proven change management tools to help individuals and organizations navigate transitions more effectively and create space for creativity and innovation.

In this HCI Webinar, I talk with Alaina Love about her book, PERMISSION TO BE YOU: Discover Your Purpose And Passions To Bring Your Best Self To Everything – And Everyone. Alaina Love is CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting and a sought-after expert who coaches leaders and their teams on defining their purpose and using their passions to build healthy, productive workplaces and flourish in daily life. She is co-author of the bestselling book The Purpose Linked Organization and was formerly a research scientist and the executive director of global human resources at Merck & Co., Inc. Love is a graduate of the University of Michigan’s Change Leadership Program, studied medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, and holds a degree in medical technology from Monmouth University. Certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, Love is a member of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches. An avid leadership thinker, she has written for Bloomberg Business Week, The Washington Post, and Harvard Business Review. Love lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

This research details the framework for University Innovation Academies, which are interdisciplinary hubs designed to centralize experiential learning, research, and entrepreneurship within higher education. These structures aim to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application by providing students with unified access to maker spaces, mentorship, and community partnerships. The research argues that such academies drive institutional success by improving student retention, boosting regional economic development, and enhancing school reputations. To be effective, these models must prioritize inclusive access for underrepresented groups and reform faculty reward systems to value mentorship alongside traditional research. Ultimately, the research provides a strategic roadmap for universities to build sustainable ecosystems that prepare graduates for complex professional landscapes through hands-on, collaborative problem-solving.

Universities today face an urgent challenge: to prepare students for a rapidly changing world where employers demand more than theoretical knowledge—they want graduates who can solve real-world problems, collaborate effectively, and innovate creatively. Traditional lectures and textbooks remain important but are insufficient on their own. To bridge this gap, a new educational model called the innovation academy is emerging. This model integrates hands-on learning with academic theory, providing students with practical experience through interdisciplinary projects that address real community and industry needs. Highlights 🚀 Innovation academies bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world problem solving. 🛠️ Equipped with advanced technology like 3D printers and coding labs, these academies foster hands-on experience. 🤝 Interdisciplinary student teams tackle meaningful community and business challenges, enhancing practical skills. 💸 Financial support such as paid internships and stipends ensures participation across diverse economic backgrounds. 🌍 Innovation is inclusive—students from all majors and skill levels are encouraged to contribute. 🎯 Innovation academies transform higher education by linking academic knowledge to community impact. 🏛️ Sustained success depends on university leadership, dedicated resources, and ongoing faculty involvement. Key Insights 🌟 Bridging Theory and Practice: The innovation academy model addresses a critical gap in traditional education by integrating hands-on projects with academic coursework. This approach ensures students do not just learn concepts but apply them to solve real problems, better preparing them for the workforce. This experiential learning enhances retention, engagement, and the ability to innovate. 🤝 Interdisciplinary Collaboration Drives Innovation: The academy brings together students and faculty from diverse fields such as logistics, computer science, social work, materials science, and graphic design. This cross-pollination of ideas leads to richer solutions and mirrors the collaborative nature of modern workplaces, breaking down departmental silos and expanding students’ perspectives. 💰 Financial Accessibility Is Essential: Many students face economic challenges that limit their ability to participate in unpaid internships or long-term volunteer projects. Innovation academies that offer paid positions, stipends, and cover material costs create equitable opportunities, ensuring that innovation is not an exclusive privilege but an inclusive movement. 🧩 Inclusivity Beyond Economics: Beyond financial barriers, psychological and skill-based hurdles prevent many students from engaging in innovation. By providing beginner-friendly workshops, open houses, and demystifying technology tools, academies foster confidence and curiosity among students who might otherwise feel intimidated, thereby broadening participation and nurturing untapped talent. 🏢 Physical Space as a Catalyst: The design and availability of dedicated spaces equipped with modern tools is crucial. Unlike traditional libraries or lecture halls, innovation academies’ physical environments encourage creativity, experimentation, and teamwork. This tangible infrastructure symbolizes the university’s commitment to experiential learning and serves as a vibrant community hub. 🔄 Mutual Benefits for University and Community: Innovation academies create a symbiotic relationship between the university and its surrounding community. Students gain practical skills and meaningful experience, faculty discover new research and mentorship opportunities, and local organizations benefit from innovative solutions. This cycle fosters regional economic and social development, positioning universities as active community partners. 📈 Leadership and Sustainable Support Are Critical: The success of innovation academies depends on visionary leadership and the allocation of resources—space, staff, funding, and faculty commitment. Without clear strategic plans and ongoing support, these initiatives risk becoming short-lived trends rather than enduring pillars of modern education. The role of donors, research grants, and partnerships is also vital for long-term sustainability. If you found this helpful, please like and share to help others transform higher education. #InnovationAcademy #HigherEd #ExperientialLearning #UniversityInnovation OUTLINE: 00:00:00 - The Classroom Is Changing 00:00:51 - What Is An Innovation Academy? 00:01:52 - Building A Better Future, One Project At A Time 00:03:01 - Making Innovation Open To Everyone 00:04:15 - A Call To Action

This conversation details the framework for University Innovation Academies, which are interdisciplinary hubs designed to centralize experiential learning, research, and entrepreneurship within higher education. These structures aim to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application by providing students with unified access to maker spaces, mentorship, and community partnerships. The research argues that such academies drive institutional success by improving student retention, boosting regional economic development, and enhancing school reputations. To be effective, these models must prioritize inclusive access for underrepresented groups and reform faculty reward systems to value mentorship alongside traditional research. Ultimately, the research provides a strategic roadmap for universities to build sustainable ecosystems that prepare graduates for complex professional landscapes through hands-on, collaborative problem-solving. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this HCI Webinar, I talk with Johnathan Grzybowski about leveraging your organizational talent to win in the future of work. Johnathan Grzybowski is the co-founder of Penji, a creative subscription service that empowers businesses, agencies, and teams with the simplest way to access creative talent.  He’s also a storyteller and host of Dear Dads and Free Ideas, where he shares insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and family life.