AI Unplugged - The Future of Work

Special Episode: AI's Workforce Reckoning

In this special episode of AI Unplugged: The Future of Work, listeners are invited inside Leadership Now’s recent convening, AI's Workforce Reckoning, featuring exclusive opening remarks from Leadership Now CEO Daniella Ballou-Aares and a timely discussion on one of the most urgent questions facing the economy: how do we prepare workers for an AI-driven future? Moderated by Warren Valdmanis, the panel brings together Jonathan Frankle, Chief AI Scientist at Databricks; Mike Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital; Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner of Inspired Capital; and Dane Linn, Senior Vice President at Business Roundtable. Together, they explore the accelerating impact of AI on jobs, productivity, and economic opportunity, while grappling with the responsibilities of business, investors, and policymakers in managing the transition. The conversation delivers a sobering but constructive message: disruption to American workers is no longer theoretical. It is already underway. The challenge now is ensuring that the benefits of AI are broadly shared and that workers have a voice in shaping what comes next.

Episode 10: The Reflection

"The future is not a forecasting exercise—it’s a design exercise." – David Autor. In this season finale of AI Unplugged, hosts Warren Valdmanis and Deval Patrick reflect on the most important ideas from their conversations across Season 1. They explore whether AI is something happening to us or something we have the power to shape, revisiting key themes including augmentation versus automation, the dignity of work, worker voice, and the risks of inequality. Drawing on insights from their guests, they examine the role of leadership, policy, and collective responsibility in determining AI’s impact, and make the case that AI’s greatest potential lies in how intentionally we choose to use it to solve society’s most pressing problems.

Episode 9: The Capitalist

"It’s a digital person" – Dave Roux. In this episode of AI Unplugged, hosts Warren Valdmanis and Deval Patrick engage in a wide-ranging conversation with investor and technologist Dave Roux about the structural impact of AI on the economy and labor force. Roux explores how AI’s “agentic” capabilities, its ability to act autonomously and improve itself, set it apart from prior technologies, reframing it as a new form of labor rather than just a tool. The discussion examines the implications for business leaders, policymakers, and workers, highlighting the need for intentional deployment, workforce adaptation, and ethical guardrails to ensure AI’s benefits are broadly shared.

Episode 8: The Labor Leader

In this episode of AI Unplugged: The Future of Work, hosts Warren Valdmanis and Deval Patrick are joined by legendary labor leader Mary Kay Henry, longtime head of SEIU, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping work across every sector of the economy. Mary Kay shares powerful insights on why the future of work is less about technology itself and more about power, voice, and who gets to shape change. From healthcare and home care to retail and warehousing, the conversation examines how workers can help design AI, protect economic security, and ensure innovation enhances human potential rather than replacing it.

Episode 7: The Scientist

David Siegel, a renowned technologist and entrepreneur, shares insights on how AI can be a powerful tool for solving real-world problems, emphasizing the importance of human agency in leveraging technology. The conversation explores the balance between technological advancement and human involvement, highlighting the need for thoughtful integration of AI into various sectors.