Ep 136: Teens Versus Automation

Kevin Roose, author of Futureproof, speaks with us about what AI
and automation means for the future of humans--and how to speak
with teens to prepare them to remain relevant in the information
age.


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Full show notes


Our kids are heading into a new era–one full of self driving
cars, automated grocery shopping and endless social media.
They’re growing up surrounded by technology, and these gizmos and
gadgets only become more prevalent every year. It’s nice to
imagine a future where robots do all the work and we humans sit
back with our feet up–but it’s also scary to imagine a world so
controlled by computers that our kids might just lose their
humanity!


It’s understandable to be worried about your teen coming of age
in this environment. They’re entering a job market where
employment opportunities are slowly being eradicated by
automation. People like travel agents and bankers have been
forced to watch as their jobs are taken by iphone apps and
digital kiosks.


Not only that, but the constant digital stimulation of iPhones,
laptops and tablets is rearranging teens’ brains on a molecular
level, inhibiting their social skills, productivity and sense of
reality! It’s frightening how much control technology has over
all of us, especially growing teens. So how can we prepare young
people for a future full of tech and automation?


Kevin Roose, our guest today, asked himself that same question a
few years ago. He decided to dive into research about humanity’s
growing dependence on technology, and then put his findings into
a book. It’s called Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of
Automation. In it, he reveals how the key to surviving in the
world of robots is not to become more robotic ourselves but
instead, become more human.


In our interview, Kevin and I get into every question you might
have about how AI is changing society. We address the concerns
you may be having about your kid’s job prospects in this future
full of automation and algorithms. He also explains how you can
help teens use their phones to learn, create and connect with
others instead of just scrolling mindlessly through Tik Tok.


The Skills that Separate Us From Robots


We know that automation is taking away jobs that historically
belonged to humans, but surprisingly, most people seem to think
their own employment is safe. When surveyed, three quarters of
people said they thought that artificial intelligence would cause
people to lose work, but only about a quarter thought they were
at risk of losing their own job. Kevin believes we are all far
too overconfident. In the episode, he explains how AI is capable
of all sorts of tasks beyond what we might imagine. Even
journalists and artists, he explains, are at risk of losing work
to AI.


So how can we prepare kids for this new job market? Some people
believe we need to behave more like robots: become more
efficient, logical, precise and accurate. But Kevin disagrees. He
believes that to stay afloat in this brave new world, we’ll have
to dive deeper into the things that make us distinctly human.


When giving young people advice about what to major in to find
success in the age of automation, he often tells them it doesn’t
matter as much as they think. Kevin expresses how important it is
for young adults to actually develop their collaboration and
communication skills along with whatever craft they choose to
pursue. Their mathematical expertise can easily be met by a
computer, but their kindness and empathy cannot. When they find
their job taken by AI, their unique human attributes will
remain–and these are what will help them find their footing in
the job market again.


In our interview, Kevin also introduces the fascinating idea of
combinatorial creativity: the ability to take knowledge and
experience regarding one subject, and transfer it to another.
This allows us to find innovative, outside-the-box solutions to
problems. Humans are great at this, while robots are not. That’s
why Kevin suggests that teens branch out to multiple interests
instead of just specializing in one thing. This versatility
allows them to maximize their combinatorial creativity, and use
their natural intelligence in a way that AI can’t.


There’s more challenges to growing up in a technology saturated
world than fearing unemployment. Kevin and I also talk about why
teenage obsession with screen time isn’t the healthiest, and how
we can help teens make the most of technology instead of letting
it dominate their lives.


Taking Control of our Tech Habits


Every day, Kevin allots sixty minutes for what he calls his
“human hour.” For the entire hour, he puts his phone away and
goes on a run, reads a book, or does anything else that makes him
feel human. Kevin began doing this because he felt his phone was
beginning to control him, and he wanted to gain that control
back. He even went on a thirty day phone detox, and wrote an
article about it. The article was wildly popular, causing Kevin
to realize just how many people feel like their devices dictate
their life.


Kevin explains that this is not an accident. Companies who create
the apps we use put a lot of effort toward making their products
addicting. They spend billions of dollars to ensure that we get
sucked in and can’t stop using. Kevin describes it as “a
supercomputer pointed at your head”....and that’s what it can
feel like! It’s frustrating because our devices are supposed to
help us be efficient and connect with others, not make us go
crazy.


That’s why Kevin suggests that teens (and parents) should
schedule some time away from phones to reset. He describes how,
after his detox, he was more productive and social. If you can,
help teens find time when they can set aside their devices and go
for a walk, or play the guitar or talk to a friend. They might
resist, but it can be a great way for them to break free from the
grip of Netflix and Instagram and get some peace of mind.


We’ll never get kids to really ditch their devices, however,
Kevin and I discuss how you can help teens use their phones to be
creative, network and learn new things. It’s easy to limit kids’
screen time, but Kevin thinks that’s not enough. We also need to
be mindful of how they’re using their devices. Are they just
staring mindlessly at the screen, playing endless games of Candy
Crush? Or are they socializing with their friends, building
websites and reading about current events? In our interview,
Kevin points to the difference between passive use and active
use, and how teens can use tech as a tool for growth.


In the Episode….


Kevin and I have fascinating discussions in this episode about
the intersection between human and artificial intelligence. On
top of the topics mentioned above, we cover:


Why we can’t have a “happy symbiosis” with AI

How kids can benefit from phone-free interaction

Why a computer could never teach a kindergarten class

What Kevin doesn’t like about the phrase “media literacy”



Although a future full of tech can feel frightening, there are
ways humans can remain relevant! The interview with Kevin was
thought-provoking and I think listeners may find themselves
thinking about how to raise kids that are future-proof.


Thanks for listening, and don’t forget to s...