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What are the questions only humans can ask in an age where AI seems to have all the answers?
In this episode, Kate O’Neill and futurist Ben Pring dive deep into the uniquely human skills and judgments that technology can’t replicate, and explore how leaders and organizations can navigate uncertainty, ask better questions, and shape a more human-centered future.
Topics covered:
Placing today’s AI advancements in historical context
How technology replaces skill with judgment
The value of asking better questions in an AI-driven world
Why leaders avoid tough decisions about humans vs. machines
How incentives and alignment shape organizational outcomes
The policy gaps at the intersection of technology, strategy, and labor
Distinguishing human creativity from AI-generated “slop”
How to maintain humanity and funkiness in a synthetic content flood
Hope and optimism for the future of work and technology
Connect with Ben Pring:
benpring.com
Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome to the Tech Humanist Show
00:00:18 – The Human Ability to Ask the Next Best Question
00:00:32 – Computers Are Useless: Asking the Right Questions
00:01:05 – Introducing Ben Pring
00:02:21 – Historical Context for Today’s AI Moment
00:04:47 – Technology: Replacing Skill with Judgment
00:08:14 – What Leaders Should Be Asking in an AI-Powered World
00:13:08 – Why Leaders Avoid Tough Questions About Automation
00:16:13 – Decision-Making in Times of Uncertainty
00:19:10 – Distinguishing Priorities from Trivialities
00:24:22 – Aligning Incentives and Unintended Consequences
00:25:41 – Have We Gotten Better at Taming the Monster?
00:29:26 – The Most Important Policy Questions We’re Not Asking
00:33:59 – The Car as a Parallel: Infrastructure and Human-Centric Design
00:36:21 – What Remains Distinctly Human in a Synthetic Content World
00:41:01 – Invention, Funkiness, and Problem-Solving
00:42:46 – Hope and Optimism for the Future
00:49:03 – Closing and Where to Find Ben Pring
