
Where Are We Going? The Future Of Work
From Past Present Future by David Runciman
May 13, 2026 · 1h 2m · Season 19 · Episode 291
About this episode
David Runciman discusses the changing nature of work and the impact of AI with journalist Sarah O’Connor.
David talks to author and journalist Sarah O’Connor, who writes about the changing character of work for the Financial Times, to explore what is happening to the world of jobs and employment in the twenty-first century. What does work mean and why do we do it? What changed when efficiency became the primary measure of human labour? How is the age of AI changing the kind of work we all do? What comes next? Out tomorrow on PPF+: Part 2 of this conversation in which David and Sarah discuss what happens when humans and machines increasingly work together: are they becoming more like us or are we becoming more like them? To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up to PPF+ now https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus Sarah O’Connor’s new book is We Are Not Machines: The Fight for the Future of Work – it will be out in June and is available for pre-order now https://bit.ly/3R3nIyz You can find out everything you need to know about this podcast – who we are, what we do, plus merch, events and full lists of all episodes including PPF+ bonus episodes on our website https://www.ppfideas.com Next Time: The Plight of Keir Starmer in Historical Perspective Learn more…
People in this episode
Host: David Runciman
Guest: Sarah O’Connor
Topics covered
- future of work
- AI and employment
- human labor
- efficiency
- job market
Keywords
- future of work
- AI
- employment
- human labor
- efficiency
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Financial Times
Books & works: We Are Not Machines: The Fight for the Future of Work
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