Lynn Thoman

The warnings about artificial intelligence are everywhere, and they're getting scarier.

Elon Musk calls AI the most disruptive force in history, warning that a day is coming when no one will need a job.

Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, has suggested people consider going into plumbing.

And surveys show three quarters of Americans believe AI will shrink the job market.

But what if all that is wrong?

What if AI's real impact isn't mass unemployment, but something completely different and maybe even transformative?

Hi, everyone.

I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways.

On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists.

Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better.

Today, I'm excited to be with David Otter.

David has spent decades studying exactly how technology reshapes jobs and wages.

He's a professor at MIT and one of the world's leading experts on the future of work.

His research has shaped how policymakers and business leaders think about automation, globalization, and artificial intelligence.

His recent work challenges some of the scariest headlines about AI and jobs.

David, welcome, and thank you so much for joining Three Takeaways again today.

It is my pleasure.

David, you've made a striking claim that AI could let more people do work that used to be reserved for top experts.

You've mentioned, for example, that a nurse practitioner could take on some of a doctor's work or a legal assistant could handle tasks once done by senior partners.

What's actually changing here and why does it matter so much?