The impact of AI on jobs is back in the headlines. Geoff Livingston and Greg Verdino took to LinkedIn Live to weigh in on the truth behind the hype—what’s really driving layoffs, how leaders should respond, and why reimagining work is the only path forward.
They discuss the complex relationship between AI and job loss, exploring the economic pressures that lead to workforce reductions, and the impact of the AI hype cycle. They emphasize the need for organizations to reimagine work in the age of AI, highlighting the importance of leadership adaptation and the integration of human labor with technology. The conversation also touches on ethical considerations and the future of work as companies navigate these changes.
In this conversation, Greg and Geoff explore the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of AI and automation across various sectors. They discuss the impending difficulties in the workforce, particularly for entry-level jobs, the necessity for reskilling and upskilling, and the unique challenges faced by nonprofits. The conversation also covers the marketing sector’s adaptation to automation, the economic implications of AI, and the importance of scenario planning for future business strategies.
Note: This episode is a recording of a LinkedIn Live broadcast from 9am ET, May 28, 2025. Other than some minor audio clean-up, we’re presenting it as-is.
Chapters
- 02:47 The Impact of AI on Employment
- 06:01 Understanding the AI Hype Cycle
- 08:55 Economic Pressures and Workforce Reductions
- 11:53 Reimagining Work in the Age of AI
- 14:57 Leadership in the Age of AI
- 18:10 Integrating Humans and AI
- 20:55 Ethics and the Future of Work
- 24:34 Navigating the Storm: Challenges Ahead
- 27:04 The Horizontal Impact of AI
- 30:29 Reskilling and Upskilling in the Age of AI
- 31:44 The Nonprofit Sector: Opportunities and Challenges
- 32:15 Marketing in the Age of Automation
- 36:30 The Future of Entry-Level Jobs
- 39:27 The Economic Implications of AI
- 43:46 Scenario Planning for the Future
- 47:28 Cultural Impacts of AI Adoption
Relevant Links
Here’s just a sampling of recent coverage (positive, negative, reasonable, hyperbolic) about the real and potential impact of AI on jobs. As we touch on during the show, it’s important to be up to speed on this topic and prepared for a range of possibilities – but that it’s essential that you always consider the source (who benefits most from this narrative?) and think critically about whatever you read.
- Telstra expects to shrink workforce as it leans in ‘hard’ on AI https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/27/telstra-ai-job-cuts-investors-workforce
- The age of AI layoffs is already here – https://qz.com/ai-layoffs-jobs-microsoft-walmart-tech-workers-1851782194
- IBM is cutting 8,000 jobs due to AI – https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/ibm-is-cutting-around-8000-jobs-likely-because-of-ai-major-losses-in-hr-department-2731131-2025-05-27
- PWC: Your workforce could double thanks to AI agents (hint: they’re counting AI agents as “workers”) – https://www.pwc.com/us/en/tech-effect/ai-analytics/ai-predictions.html#your-workforce-could-double–thanks-to-ai-agents
- Microsoft is dogfooding AI dev tools’ future – https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/microsoft-ai-dev-tools
- AI is breaking entry level jobs – https://fortune.com/2025/05/25/ai-entry-level-jobs-gen-z-careers-young-workers-linkedin/
- A white-collar bloodbath – https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-collar-bloodbath-ai-could-113113291.html?
- AI is replacing women’s jobs specifically – https://futurism.com/ai-labor-gender-equity
- People are worried AI will take everyone’s jobs. We’ve been here before – https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/01/27/1087041/technological-unemployment-elon-musk-jobs-ai/
- Klarna’s AI replaced 700 workers. Now it wants some of them back – https://www.the-independent.com/news/business/klarna-ceo-sebastian-siemiatkowski-ai-job-cuts-hiring-b2755580.html
- Amid backlash, Duolingo backtracks on plans for AI pivot – https://www.pcmag.com/news/amid-backlash-duolingo-backtracks-on-plans-for-ai-pivot
