Sean Boyce and James Perkins

What About AI

Business EN ↓ 25 episodes

300 million jobs at risk. 40% of the workforce exposed. The AI revolution isn't coming, it's here. What About AI is a weekly podcast helping everyday people understand how artificial intelligence and robotics are reshaping work, life, and society. Hosts Sean and James cut through the hype and fear to deliver clear explanations, real stories, and practical strategies.

Author

Sean Boyce and James Perkins

Category

Business

Podcast website

whataboutai.com

Latest episode

Feb 18, 2026

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Episodes

Microsoft's AI Chief: Most Office Jobs Will Be Automated in 18 Months 18.02.2026

Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman says most white-collar tasks will be fully automated within 12 to 18 months. Dario Amodei describes a near-future "country of geniuses in a data center." Every major AI leader is landing on the same window. We unpack each prediction, test it against our consulting experience, and break down what this means for knowledge workers right now. What we cover: Suleyman...

AI Safety Researchers Are Quitting — And Claude Knows When It's Being Watched 17.02.2026

In one week: Anthropic's safety chief resigned warning "the world is in peril." Half of xAI's co-founders left. An OpenAI researcher quit citing concerns about manipulation. The headlines are alarming — but the full story is more nuanced, and in some ways, more concerning. What we cover: Mrinank Sharma's resignation from Anthropic — full context behind "world is in peril" Why the full letters tell...

4 Possible Futures for Your Job by 2030 - We Might be Heading Toward the Worst One 16.02.2026

The World Economic Forum just released a framework mapping four possible futures for the global job market by 2030. Two variables determine which scenario we get: AI advancement speed and workforce readiness. The combinations produce four outcomes — and based on what we're seeing on the ground, we're headed toward the one nobody wants. What we cover: The WEF's four scenarios: Supercharged Progress...

AI Is Coming for HR - But HR Might Come Out Ahead 16.02.2026

HR professionals are in a unique position: their department is being disrupted by AI while simultaneously being asked to lead the company's AI transformation. In this episode, we break down what's actually happening — from ADP's new AI agents serving 1.1M+ businesses to the uncomfortable truth about how many HR professionals have barely used AI beyond making caricatures. What we cover:  → ADP's AI...

The Job Interview Is Changing - Here's What May Replace It 16.02.2026

The hiring process is changing faster than most people realize. McKinsey is now testing candidates on their ability to work with AI. 87% of companies use AI to screen resumes. And Gartner predicts 50% of organizations will require AI-free skills assessments while 75% will test for AI proficiency - simultaneously. What we cover:  → McKinsey's Lilli AI tool in final-round interviews  → Two divergent...

Wall Street's AI Invasion - What It Means for Your Career 16.02.2026

Financial services and banking companies are pushing AI further and faster than almost any other industry. In this episode, we draw on our combined decades at Vanguard and JP Morgan Chase to break down exactly what's happening — and what it means for workers at every level. What we cover:  → BNY Mellon's $3.8B tech spend and 134 "digital employees"  → 20,000 employees building their own AI agents...

We Tested Opus 4.6 vs GPT 5.3 — One of Them Is Scary Good 11.02.2026

In this episode, we go hands-on with the two biggest AI model releases of 2026 so far — Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 and OpenAI's GPT-5.3 Codex — and break down what they mean for workers and businesses. What we cover: → Opus 4.6: 1M token context window, agent teams, thinks ahead of you → GPT-5.3 Codex: 25% faster, first model that helped build itself → Our hands-on experience using both for codin...

AI Agents Just Replaced Your Coworkers (McKinsey Hired 25,000 of Them) 11.02.2026

McKinsey now has 25,000 AI agents working alongside 40,000 humans. OpenAI just launched Frontier. Anthropic released Agent Teams. The shift from "AI as a tool" to "AI as your coworker" is happening right now. We break down what both platforms can do, share real stats from companies already using them (one cut fulfillment from 6 weeks to 1 day), and give you practical advice on how to position your...

70% of Banking Is About to Be Automated. Here's What We Saw From the Inside. 09.02.2026

70% of banking operations are expected to be automated. GPT 5.2's thinking model beats human financial experts more than 70% of the time - up from 38% in the previous version. Hundreds of thousands of Wall Street jobs are at risk. We've spent a combined 22 years in finance - Sean at Vanguard (7 years, original robo-advisor project) and James at JP Morgan Chase (15 years in banking). We break down...

AI Just Changed Healthcare Forever: Our Personal Stories Are Crazy 09.02.2026

230 million people are asking healthcare questions on ChatGPT every single week. Over 40 million daily. We're two of them - and the results changed our lives. James's doctor told him to start statins. AI suggested an alternative approach. Three months later, his doctor said "this isn't normal - I haven't seen this before." Sean fed his migraine data into Claude and it found a pattern no specialist...

Claude Cowork Is Here: The AI Desktop Agent That Changes Everything 08.02.2026

A million people installed Claudebot - an unofficial AI agent that could handle your schedule, admin, and daily tasks. Then the security vulnerabilities came out. Your passwords, your data, all exposed. Anthropic's response? They built Claude Cowork - an official, secure desktop agent that integrates with your apps, your tools, and your workflow. It just got a Slack integration. New plugins are sh...

The Great Unbossing: Why Middle Managers Are the #1 Target for AI Layoffs 03.02.2026

Middle managers are the #1 target for AI-driven layoffs. It's called "The Great Unbossing" - and it's accelerating. The numbers are brutal:  • Amazon: 30,000 layoffs targeting management  • $5 billion projected savings from management cuts alone  • 50% of all layoffs now involve middle managers (up from 26% in 2018)  • 75% of millennial middle managers report burnout If you're a middle manager and...

The AI Hiring Arms Race: Bots vs. Bots & Why Nobody's Winning 02.02.2026

Both companies AND job seekers are now using AI in hiring. The result? A completely broken system where bots talk to bots and nobody wins. The shocking reality: • 83% of companies use AI to screen resumes • 40-50% of job applications involve bots • 65% of recruiters use AI tools • But 88% of companies admit AI screens out qualified candidates Meanwhile, hiring managers can spot AI-generated resume...

Ghost Jobs Are Destroying Your Job Search (Here's How to Fight Back) 02.02.2026

You've applied to hundreds of jobs. No responses. No interviews. Just silence. Here's the brutal truth: 40% of those jobs might not even exist. In this episode, we expose the ghost job epidemic—fake job postings that companies use to manipulate workers, impress investors, and harvest resumes with zero intention of hiring. The shocking stats: • 40% of companies posted fake jobs in 2024 • 81% of rec...

The AIxiety Pivot: Gen Z's Escape Plan from AI 31.01.2026

Here's something nobody saw coming: the most tech-savvy generation in history is abandoning tech careers—and running toward construction, plumbing, and electrical work. 🔧 62% of Gen Z believe AI could replace their jobs within 10 years. 70% say AI has made them question their job security. And now, 60% say they're likely to pursue blue-collar work in 2026—up from just 25% during high school. Care...

30,000 Gone: What Amazon's AI Layoffs Mean for Your Job 31.01.2026

Amazon just announced the largest layoffs in company history—and they're doing better than ever. That's the new reality. 📦💔 In just 3 months, Amazon has cut 30,000 jobs: 16,000 announced yesterday on top of 14,000 from October. That's roughly 10% of their workforce. And here's what makes this different: these cuts are happening alongside record profits and massive AI investments. What's getting...

Customer Service Jobs Are Already Gone (Salesforce Cut 50%) 26.01.2026

This isn't a prediction—it's already happening. Customer service jobs are disappearing faster than anyone expected. 📞🤖 Salesforce just cut their customer service workforce nearly in HALF—from 9,000 to 5,000—by replacing humans with AI agents. And Gartner predicts 20-30% of customer service workforces will be replaced THIS YEAR alone. The numbers are brutal: → Salesforce: 9,000 → 5,000 employees...

New Grads Are Getting Crushed (10% Unemployment & Rising) 26.01.2026

New college grads are facing the worst job market in years—and the data is brutal. 📉 While overall unemployment stays low, new grad unemployment is approaching 10%. And here's the kicker: Dallas Fed research shows job finding rates have only held steady for roles with LOW AI exposure. If your degree targets AI-vulnerable jobs, you're already feeling it. What the data shows: → ~10% unemployment fo...

The Davos AI Warning Every Worker Needs to Hear 26.01.2026

The world's most powerful leaders just gathered in Davos—and they're not sugarcoating what's coming. 🌍 AI anxiety has risen 50% in under two years, and 60% of employees feel their leaders are underestimating the psychological toll. At the World Economic Forum, tech CEOs and global institutions delivered some of the most direct warnings we've heard yet. What they said: → Dario Amodei (Anthropic) &...

Is AI Ready to Have It's Own Workforce? 22.01.2026

This episode covers 2026 being the year AI gets its own workforce. Key points: Gartner predicts 15% of strategic decisions will be made by AI within 2 years (up from 0%) Microsoft is giving AI agents employee identities (on org charts!) Agentic AI explained: teams of AI agents assigned tasks, working autonomously New jobs emerging: "agent managers" who oversee AI teams Physical/care jobs have a wi...

Are AI Layoffs Real? The Truth Behind the Headlines 21.01.2026

This episode discusses whether AI layoffs are real or just companies using AI as a scapegoat for stock bumps. Key points: Oxford Economics study: only 4.5% of layoffs are actually AI-related Most companies are in a "test bed phase" with AI The "eye of the storm" metaphor: real disruption is coming in 3-4 quarters Ryan Dahl (Node.js creator) declared "the era of humans writing code is over" Advice:...

Survival Guide for PMs: Navigating AI and Automation 15.01.2026

Summary Dive into the evolving world of project management as AI and automation reshape the job landscape. Discover tips for PM survival, learn about the shift from supervision to orchestration, and get expert advice on adapting to this tech-centric future. Plus, practical tools and resources for those already affected by the changing tides. Key Points • AI's growing impact on Project Managers • P...

ATCs and AI: Navigating New Skies 15.01.2026

Summary In this episode, we explore the turbulent world of air traffic controllers (ATCs) amidst the AI revolution. From Reddit rejections to runway realities, we dissect the industry's tech woes and forecast the automated horizon. Buckle up for a geeky glide through ATC challenges and the possible career detours looming over their radar. Key Points • AI's impact on air traffic control • The overw...

AI's Shake-Up of Software Engineering 15.01.2026

Summary Dive into the AI whirlwind transforming software development! Hear from tech consultants Sean and guest as they decode AI's rapid advancements, impact on coding careers, and how to stay afloat in this tidal wave of change. Keep up or get swept away! Key Points • AI is reshaping software jobs • Claude code: A major disruptor • Knowing AI is career-critical • Code quality vs. functionality •...

Welcome to What About AI 14.01.2026

AI is changing everything. We help you prepare. Weekly conversations on the AI revolution, job disruption, and how to stay ahead. Welcome to What About AI.  Sign up for the newsletter at What About AI  

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