More Than Code: How Real Relationships Sustain Us in an Automated World with Allison Pugh PhD

Many have come to believe that AI is a universal solution for managing repetitive tasks and a panacea for improving productivity. But is it realistic to think that machines can replace humans in a world built on connection and belonging? Our soul, or life force, is the essence of who we are and cannot be replicated by a machine; instead, it relies on human connectivity and interdependence to thrive and flourish. As we navigate this new era, the question of human-machine coexistence looms. We are living in rapidly changing times in which AI is altering the way we learn and work, but it cannot replace the magic of human-to-human relational engagement.

To explore the boundaries of machine learning and achieve emotional intimacy, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen interviews Dr. Allison Pugh, a professor of sociology at Johns Hopkins University and the 2024-25 vice president of the American Sociological Association.

Allison discusses the research that led to her latest book, The Last Human Job, including the dilemma at the crossroads of AI and mental health, the impact of prioritizing data collection on human connective labor, and what is lost in artificial intelligence versus human interaction.

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