There is widespread concern among employees – especially lower-income workers – about AI and automation replacing jobs. That concern – whether it is warranted, and potential solutions if it is – were the topics of a special panel at the HOPE Global Forum in December in Atlanta – The Future of Work Ideas Lab.
Joining me onstage to explore the impact of AI on the workforce of today and tomorrow were Chike Aguh, senior advisor to the Project on Workforce at Harvard University; Debbie Dyson, CEO of OneTen; and Rodney Bolden, executive director of Morgan Stanley at Work.
In the panel, we discussed how many employers are still trying to understand how to best implement AI and are unsure the appropriate use cases and guardrails. The outsized risk to lower-income workers and those in low-wage jobs was also top of mind.
Overall, the conversation also emphasized the need for collaboration between employers and workers, especially those from underrepresented communities and the need to help those at the greatest risk of being kept from AI jobs of the future develop the skills they need to leverage AI technologies.
While at HOPE Global Forum, I sat down separately with each panelists to do a deep dive into the topics. You can watch those interviews here, as well as the full The Future of Work Ideas Lab panel discussion.

Chike Aguh: Here’s How Employers Are Implementing AI Today and Tomorrow
Millions of Jobs at Risk? The Truth About AI and Work
Opportunity, equity, and productivity-these are the pillars that will define the future of jobs in an AI-driven world. At the HOPE Global Forum, Chike Aguh, Senior Advisor to the Project on Workforce at Harvard University, joins Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief of WorkingNation, for a powerful conversation about how artificial intelligence is transforming work, and what it means for both employers and employees.
Rodney Bolden: Giving Workers a Voice in How AI Is Being Used in the Workplace
How Employers Can Rebuild Trust in the Age of AI
AI, workforce trust, productivity, and employee engagement-these are the urgent themes driving today’s workplace transformation. In this compelling conversation from the HOPE Global Forum, Rodney Bolden, Executive Director at Morgan Stanley at Work, sits down with Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief of WorkingNation, to unpack how employers can earn back employee trust in an era shaped by AI, automation, and uncertainty.
Debbie Dyson: Worker Upskilling Is Important Now More Than Ever
What Happens When Employers Focus on Skills, Not Credentials?
Skills-based hiring, jobs, credentialing, economic mobility, and workforce development are at the center of this powerful conversation about the future of work and who gets access to opportunity. At the HOPE Global Forum, Debbie Dyson, CEO of OneTen, joins Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief of WorkingNation, to explore how shifting focus from traditional credentials to proven skills can transform the way companies hire and promote talent.
HOPE Global Forum: The Future of Work Ideas Lab
The Future of Work
Automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are revolutionizing industries and reshaping the future of employment. As machines take on tasks once performed by humans, new roles are emerging that require different skills, such as digital literacy, creativity, and problem-solving.
Learn more about the HOPE Global Forum 2025 and register here.