EP 108 - Four Things AI is Screwing Up

In this episode of the "Travel Nerds" podcast, Kenny and Jason discuss four real-world problems created by AI.

The Problem with Alcohol-Centric Events:Kenny starts the episode with a frustration about professional events being centered around alcohol. He and Jason agree that people can get "wasted" at these events, which can lead to negative outcomes. Kenny points out that if you don't drink at these events, people may assume you have an alcohol problem. To combat this, he suggests that events should offer non-alcoholic options, like the non-alcoholic beer from Bureau that he recently tried and enjoyed. Jason tastes one on air and agrees that it tastes just like a regular beer. Kenny adds that a growing number of young people aged 18-34 are drinking less alcohol than older generations.

AI's Impact on the Professional World:The hosts then shift to the main topic: AI. They discuss how AI is changing the workforce, starting with the

software consultant's dilemma. With AI, a consultant can now do a 90-day, $150,000 project in just three weeks. This raises the question of how to bill for the work—by hours or by value. Kenny and Jason speculate that consultants may start using "human equivalent hours" to bill clients and that companies will eventually pay for deliverables rather than hours.

Next, they tackle the real-world problem of HR. They play a clip stating that IBM eliminated 8,000 jobs after automating 94% of HR work. Jason and Kenny discuss how some jobs will be eliminated by AI, while new, unimaginable jobs will also be created. They agree that this transition is happening faster than ever before.

The conversation then moves to the impact of AI on education and careers. They question the value of a traditional college degree when AI can accelerate learning and skill acquisition. Jason, a parent of a high-school graduate, suggests that his child follow their passion and decide if college is a necessary step. Kenny, an expecting father, offers a different perspective, saying he wants his child to go to college for the social experience and networking opportunities, not necessarily for the degree itself.

Jason's "Face Melting" Procedure:Finally, Jason shares his recent experience with a "face melting" procedure to remove pre-cancerous cells. He explains that a special cream is applied to his face and then activated by a light, which targets and eliminates the damaged cells. He documented the 14-day recovery process by using a tool called Replit to organize and display photos of his face as it healed.