David Autor

David Autor, an MIT economics professor renowned for his research on trade's labor market impacts, joins to discuss the fallout from U.S.-China trade relations. He reveals how concentrated job losses in manufacturing have affected specific regions and the painful adaptation process for displaced workers. Autor critiques earlier economic models for overlooking local employment effects and emphasizes the complications of worker mobility and reskilling. He also addresses the implications of tariffs and advocates for strategic investment to rejuvenate industries and maintain economic leadership.

David Autor, an MIT economics professor, and James Suzman, an anthropologist and author, explore the transformation of work in modern society. They discuss how 60% of today's jobs didn't exist in 1940, emphasizing the impact of automation and AI on traditional roles. Suzman shares insights from hunter-gatherer societies, contrasting their egalitarian practices with today's challenges in job satisfaction and stability. Together, they envision the future of work, considering how technology will shape employment and the nature of labor itself.

David Autor, a Ford Professor of Economics at MIT and co-director of the Work of the Future Task Force, shares insights on AI's transformative role in labor markets. He draws parallels between the China Shock and AI impact, emphasizing how AI can amplify expertise and improve decision-making. Autor discusses the potential of AI to enhance middle-class jobs and ensures upward mobility in the workplace. He advocates for adapting education to prepare for an AI-driven future, highlighting the balance between automation and collaboration.

David Autor, an MIT economist focused on labor markets, James Rosenman, CEO at Andrus on Hudson specializing in senior care robots, and Karen Eggleston, a Stanford economist researching robotic healthcare solutions in Asia, discuss the evolving role of robots in the workforce. They explore the balance between job displacement and the creation of new opportunities, the integration of cobots in nursing homes to enhance patient care, and the global perspectives on technological adaptation, particularly in Japan’s aging care landscape.

Steve Rattner, economist and financier who advised on the auto bailout, analyzes U.S. manufacturing, tariffs and transit procurement. Eric Brynjolfsson, Stanford AI and digital-economy researcher, talks AI’s productivity promise and policy choices. David Autor, MIT labor economist, explores how AI reshapes work, risks to labor and the policy trade-offs ahead.

David Autor, an MIT economics professor and co-director of the Shaping the Future of Work initiative, discusses the dual narratives of AI's impact on jobs. He argues that AI can actually uplift the middle class by democratizing access to skilled jobs and boosting productivity. Autor highlights how past technological advancements have shaped inequality but believes AI represents a new frontier. He also emphasizes the importance of investing in education and healthcare to harness AI’s potential for positive societal change.

David Autor, a prominent MIT economics professor and expert on job automation, joins Martin Wolf to discuss the aftermath of China's entry into the World Trade Organization. They explore the 'China shock' and its devastating impact on U.S. jobs, questioning the feasibility of revitalizing manufacturing. The conversation shifts to the looming challenge of AI, highlighting its potential to disrupt the job market while also enhancing productivity. Autor emphasizes the need for strategic policies to ensure AI fosters new opportunities, particularly in education and healthcare.

David Autor, an MIT professor and labor economist known for his expertise on technology and the future of work, discusses the nuanced implications of AI on jobs. He argues that the biggest risk is not mass unemployment but rather the potential loss of human expertise. Autor shares how AI can empower middle-class opportunities and create new jobs through technology. He emphasizes the importance of domain knowledge and communication, while also presenting an optimistic vision for a more productive future if AI is utilized effectively.

David Autor, an MIT economist known for his insights on AI's impact on jobs, discusses the dual nature of automation in the workplace. He explores how AI can displace jobs while also creating high-skill opportunities, emphasizing the evolving value of expertise. Autor highlights the importance of understanding dynamic expertise in a labor market reshaped by technology. He advocates for AI systems that enhance collaboration with skilled professionals and offers a framework for measuring job expertise, addressing both challenges and potential benefits of the future of work.

David Autor, MIT labor economist who studies how technology reshapes work, explains how AI differs from past tools. He explores where AI excels and fails. He discusses AI as a complement to human judgment, how it could expand expertise for non-elite workers, and who might capture the gains. He outlines policy levers—training, wage supports, IP rules—to shape outcomes.