Authors Confront Threats to Jobs from AI and Other Technology
Ask students: How has technology impacted the lives of workers over the past 1,000 years according to the authors of "Power and Progress"?
Summary
The last year has seen headlines of hope and outright fear around the rapid development of artificial intelligence. It creates questions about whether the innovations can lead to broad gains for everyone or just a select few. Economics correspondent Paul Solman focused on the connections between technology and prosperity with one of the co-authors of the new book, "Power and Progress."
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Warm Up Questions
- Who is Simon Johnson, and what is his background?
- What is "Spot the Wonder Dog"?
- How has technology impacted the lives of workers over the past 1,000 years according to the authors of "Power and Progress"?
- Who were the "Luddites" and what were they reacting to in being against new machinery?
- Where is the "Exploring AI" exhibit described in this story?
- What sort of jobs might be replaced by AI?
Focus Questions
What do you think will be some of the benefits and some of the drawbacks of AI in the workplace?
Media literacy: What concerns about AI were not brought up in this story? Why do you think they were left out?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
For More:
What students can do: This story describes the threats and opportunities of AI in the workplace. But what about AI in the classroom? Have a conversation about the ways technology has changed the ways students learn through history. Then discuss —
- How will AI change the way students learn in the future?
- Will AI make learning easier or harder?
- Will AI be better for some students than others?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Want to see more stories like this one? Subscribe to the SML e-newsletter!
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
Advertisement
