Interview Introduction
Opening Statement:
“There’s been growing interest and debate around industry automation as AI and robotics are reshaping industries.” Today’s central question is, does automation make life easier or is it creating a future where humans may be progressively replaced in the workforce. Because the pace of change is so fast, and the resulting disruption so significant in both lower and higher skilled fields.”
Personal Context:
My own curiosity around automation kicked off when I started to see a lot more systems like self checkouts and driverless cars becoming more common. It made me wonder: Is this a continuation of technological progress, or are we about to slide into a new kind of cycle that, in a fundamental way, changes the workforce forever?”
Introduction of Interviewees:
Introduce Sean, a substitute teacher at a high school, who is working towards his master’s in software development or computer science, and Arber, a computer engineering grad, looking for a job during a time of high AI unemployment.
Section 1: My Personal Experiences with Automation
General Background Questions:
How has automation influenced your career path, and can you describe your career path today?
Have you been adequately prepared for the challenges of automation in your field, let’s say?
Specific Questions for Sean:
I was considering a career change, so while I earned my master’s in software development, I chose the job in the meantime as a substitute teacher.
Have AI taken any tech jobs for entry-level professionals away? If so, how?
What do you think about the direction of education in tech on the topic of AI, does it keep up with the advances of so-called AI and everything it encompasses, or does it come up short when compared to the business needs in the industrial sector?
Specific Questions for Arber:
What difficulties have you faced as a Computer Engineering grad to have a job in an industry where AI is becoming more important?
Are you aware of certain trends in which automation has either created opportunities or taken them away from your field?
With AI no longer considered novel, how has the competitive landscape of tech jobs changed?
Section 2: Perceptions of Automation
Historical Comparisons:
For example, David Autor puts it that technology doesn’t eliminate jobs but rather redefines them again and again. For instance, while ATMs didn’t replace bank tellers, bank tellers transitioned to part of the customer service unit. Is this pattern applicable for the ongoing wave of automation? Why or why not?
Unique Challenges of Modern Automation:
But Jihoo Lim says today’s automation is fundamentally different because it is faster, and because of its scale and effect on low level and high level skilled jobs. Do you think that this wave is more disruptive than other technological revolutions such as the Industrial Revolution?
Schlossberg argues that AI’s ability to imitate tasks done, in that unique human way, makes this wave of automation so different from others. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
Impact on Job Security:
As AI and robotics evolve, Lim warns, even low skill and high skill jobs are at risk. Is this risk one you have seen in your field or amongst your peers?
Are the old ideas of job security becoming obsolete? If so, how can workers adapt?
Personal Reflections:
Are you optimistic, or more worried, in thinking about automation within your field? Why?
Section 5: Preparing for the Future
Advice for the Next Generation:
If you were to give advice to students or recent graduate working in AI prone industry what would that be?
Do you think in 10 years we’ll need more specific skills or more specific areas of study when looking to enter the workforce?
Policy and Business Recommendations:
Re-skilling programs and stronger safety nets are required for ensuring economic prosperity, according to Lim. What should be done in policy or program form to help workers adapt to automation?
Should or must, governments be bearing more responsibility for retraining displaced workers? Or would it fall more to the realm of businesses?
Your Vision for the Future:
Do you think you can have your cake and eat it too: that we can preserve meaningful human work while enjoying the benefits that automation provides?
What’s the shape of an ideal future for automation and the workforce?
Section 3: Implications of Automation Beyond Google Translate
Social and Economic Impacts:
Training and retraining of workers is needed to avoid leaving workers behind, says Schlossberg. But what do you think should education systems do to tackle the problem of automation?
According to Lim, governments and businesses will have to roll out reskilling programs and stronger social safety nets. Do you think these measures are realistic enough or are they sufficient?
Widening Inequality:
The pace at which automation is occurring could accelerate inequality and unsettle economies, warns Lim. What signs, have you seen or experienced this in your industry or community?
How can we reduce the potential inequalities policymakers face?
New Opportunities vs. Risks:
According to Autor, automation frequently brings with it new industries and roles that we can’t yet anticipate. Will this bear out for the coming wave of AI driven automation?
Has automation already created jobs where you didn’t expect?
Section 4: Human Skills in an Automated Future
The Value of Human Attributes:
Autor notes that professions demanding creativity, empathy and problem solving aren’t a thing of the past. Are these skills sufficient to protect human occupations within the workforce?
What do you think workers can do to enhance the uniquely human skills to remain competitive?
Complementing, Not Replacing:
Schlossberg and Autor agree that automation can actually enhance human labor, rather than replace it. Have you seen examples of this in your own field?
Which industries or jobs you think are the best fit for humans and AI to work together harmoniously?
Ethical Considerations:
How much should companies feel ethically responsible when implementing automation?
If there are limits to how much automation industries can use, what should they be?
Conclusion
Closing Reflections:
What could you say that summarizes your conception of automation in just one sentence?
What are you hoping policymakers, educators and business leaders get out of discussions like this?
Thank You Note:
“So thank you for your time, and your insights today.” Understanding this complex issue can only be improved by your perspectives and experiences.”
I think you have too too many questions that you plan to ask your interviewees. Also they are not experts on some of the topics that you ask. Those questions were answered in your research by the experts you found: Autor and Lin. Definitely you will insert research points learned from Autor and Lin.
However as for your interviewees — I think you need to decide on the questions that Sean and Arber can give their own personal insight and experience on AI and job replacement. One problem is that Sean and Arber are both LOOKING for jobs, so how will they speak about their work experience and how AI has affected their job world?
Both are looking for software computer engineering jobs? Both are the same?
What about Sean’s experience as teacher — how has AI impacted the job force for teachers? Can AI replace parts of his job? Something like that would be interesting from a teacher’s experience.
Trying to broad the perspective — do you know any job holder who works in a field where definitely AI has diminished their work roles? Like a bank teller, cashier? (taxi-drivers in WHAT city — only San Francisco correct?). Then for instance: What parts of their job has AI started to do? Have they up-scaled their skills? How did they do that?
Remember you must make this interesting to the audience.