Video summary
The definition of what constitutes "work" is undergoing a fundamental transformation due to the rise of artificial intelligence, shifting away from traditional manual and material tasks deeply embedded in physical life toward a future where being human becomes paramount. This evolution forces us to reconsider the very essence of labor as technology reshapes our daily realities, suggesting that the core of the future workforce will rely increasingly on distinctly human qualities rather than just mechanical output or digital efficiency alone.
A key distinction emerges between the first billion internet users and the next billion who are currently coming online, particularly in regions like India; these new users differ not only by being mobile-only but also by possessing an extraordinary optimism toward emerging technologies such as AI. Unlike previous generations that may have viewed technology with skepticism or caution, this demographic sees digital tools as vehicles for creating their own futures and realizing unprecedented possibilities, making them a unique group whose engagement with artificial intelligence is driven by hope rather than fear of displacement.
Furthermore, the design principles guiding these new applications are being reimagined through a feminist lens that places women, workers, and marginalized groups at the center instead of treating technology as the primary focus. This approach elevates everyday labor—such as domestic work and caregiving—that is often undervalued by market forces into a fundamental component of how we define our collective economy, ensuring that AI development addresses justice issues rather than merely optimizing efficiency for existing power structures.
Ultimately, the convergence of these shifts suggests that the next billion users will lead an AI revolution characterized by optimism, inclusivity, and a redefinition of value that honors care work alongside digital innovation. By centering the experiences of those who have historically been excluded from technological discourse, this new wave of development promises to create systems where technology serves as a tool for empowerment rather than exploitation, fundamentally altering how society understands labor and human potential in an automated world.
Read the full video transcript
Hey pile, how is the definition of the
worker changing because of artificial
intelligence?
>> So the definition of workers are
changing because of artificial
intelligence in a very concrete way.
Basically we are re uh questioning what
constitutes as work in the first place
which is very manual, very material and
very uh basically embedded in our
everyday you know physicality of life.
So I think that's the core of what will
be the future of work and why being
human matters more than anything else.
>> How are the next billion users different
from the first billion? That's been one
of the central premises of your book.
Nextburn users are distinct as a new
kind of group coming online in multiple
ways but namely they are not just mobile
first they're mobile only often times
second and more viscerally they're
extraordinarily optimistic about new
technologies including AI because they
see their future possibilities in these
you know digital enactments because they
can create their futures
>> pan what are some of the feminist design
principles and how are they different
from what people are using today as they
design AI apps.
>> When we think about designing apps from
a feminist perspective, there's a growth
of fee where we put technology at the
center for [snorts] rethinking justice,
right? But with turning it around and
making it feminist principles, it's
about putting the women, the workers at
the center and other kinds of
marginalized groups. And so it becomes
fem work right where it is their
everyday work which is not necessarily
endorsed by the market but the work at
home the work of care and that becomes
so fundamentally central to the way in
which we divi def define um our labor.
heart.