Is AI actually making work better? Discover why many employees are feeling more constrained by machines instead of being empowered by them.

In this episode, Financial Times journalist and author Sarah O'Connor joins Geoff Nielson to talk about the reality of AI in the workplace, challenging the common belief that automation will free us from repetitive work. Drawing from her new book, “We Are Not Machines,” and months of reporting inside Amazon warehouses, Swedish mines, hospitals, translation agencies, and software teams, Sarah explains how AI isn't just eliminating jobs, it is reshaping them in ways that can either empower people or reduce them to "human robots."

The conversation breaks down why the promise of AI creating more time for creative, meaningful work hasn't become reality for many employees. Instead, many workers feel like they're being managed by software, algorithms, and increasingly automated systems.

If you're wondering how AI will transform your career, your organization, or the future of work, this episode is for you.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

01:17 The surprising truth about AI and work

02:31 Why AI predictions are missing the real story

06:10 What Sarah discovered on the front lines of automation

07:54 Inside Amazon's robot-powered warehouses

13:25 How AI transformed professional translators

18:07 About Info-Tech Research Group

19:06 Is AI making work less human?

19:56 Why software developers are thriving with AI

23:46 The Swedish mine where automation actually works

31:10 Who should decide how AI changes work?

34:23 AI surveillance, trust, and workplace governance

37:56 Why companies shouldn't blindly adopt AI

39:06 Healthcare, nursing, and the cost of over-optimization

46:30 Can healthcare become human again?

49:56 Productivity, burnout, and becoming like machines

53:18 Have we lost faith in ourselves?

59:26 AI hype, fear of missing out, and smarter adoption

01:03:45 What gives Sarah hope about the future of work?

01:08:07 Advice for business and technology leaders

01:11:00 Final thoughts

01:11:47 Closing

Connect with Sarah:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-o-connor-86067a31/

X: https://x.com/sarahoconnor_

Our links:

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