The Future of Work, AI, and Economic Mobility with Dr. Steve Taylor, Stand Together Trust

Recorded LIVE! on the Harbor Terrace at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, Mike Palmer is joined by Dr. Steven Taylor, Policy Director and Senior Fellow for Economic Mobility at Stand Together Trust. Steve brings a unique perspective to the table, combining a national philanthropic lens with his roles on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). The conversation captures the shifting energy of the summit, moving away from the peak of AI hype toward what Steve calls "optimistic skepticism" - a more mature look at how technology can practically transform learning while remaining grounded in the reality of its current limitations. The discussion explores the potential of AI to revolutionize the K-12 experience, using examples like Austin’s Alpha School to show how personalized learning can compress the school day, allowing students more time to pursue their passions. Steve and Mike tackle the difficult questions of equity and the "risk capital" required to bring high-cost innovations to scale. Then we pivot to the higher education landscape, where Steve emphasizes the need to dignify non-degree pathways. He shares insights from Virginia’s FastForward program, a pay-for-performance model that has successfully moved residents into high-demand fields through short-term credentials, proving that ROI isn't just a metric for four-year degrees. As the conversation turns to the future of work, Steve expresses concern over the potential displacement of entry-level roles—the "desk jockey" jobs that traditionally provide young people with essential social capital and early career experience. He argues that our labor laws are antiquated and must evolve to support a more flexible, AI-driven workforce that favors 1099 and gig-based contributions. From the necessity of correcting AI’s erroneous outputs to the complexities of AI-driven hiring and the debate over universal basic income, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the policy and philanthropic shifts needed to ensure everyone can contribute to a changing economy. Time Stamps 00:00 - Welcome to Trending in Ed Live from San Diego 01:00 - Steve Taylor’s roles at Stand Together, SCHEV, and NACIQI 02:00 - Moving from AI hype to "optimistic skepticism" 03:00 - Transforming K-12: The Alpha School model 05:00 - The role of risk capital and philanthropy in scaling tech 08:00 - Dignifying non-degree pathways and the ROI of trades 09:30 - Virginia’s "Fast Forward" and the success of short-term credentials 12:00 - Why states shouldn't let federal funding dictate workforce design 13:30 - AI skepticism: Correcting outputs and the "mid" floor 16:00 - The risk of losing entry-level career experiences 18:00 - Social capital and the "future of working" 20:30 - Why federal labor law must catch up to the 1099 economy 22:30 - Thoughts on AI adjustment assistance vs. UBI 23:30 - Closing thoughts and where to find Stand Together To keep up with the latest in the world of learning, make sure to Follow, Like, and Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts.