AI CEOs Are Lying About the Future of Work. Here's What's Really Coming

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 Intro01:17 The surprising truth about AI and work02:31 Why AI predictions are missing the real story06:10 What Sarah discovered on the front lines of automation07:54 Inside Amazon's robot-powered warehouses13:25 How AI transformed professional translators18:07 About Info-Tech Research Group19:06 Is AI making work less human?19:56 Why software developers are thriving with AI23:46 The Swedish mine where automation actually works31:10 Who should decide how AI changes work?34:23 AI surveillance, trust, and workplace governance37:56 Why companies shouldn't blindly adopt AI39:06 Healthcare, nursing, and the cost of over-optimization46:30 Can healthcare become human again?49:56 Productivity, burnout, and becoming like machines53:18 Have we lost faith in ourselves?59:26 AI hype, fear of missing out, and smarter adoption01:03:45 What gives Sarah hope about the future of work?01:08:07 Advice for business and technology leaders01:11:00 Final thoughts01:11:47 ClosingConnect with Sarah:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-o-connor-86067a31/X: https://x.com/sarahoconnor_Our links:Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcastFollow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG