Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
#AIRevolution
#UKProductivity
#futureofwork
UK productivity – output per hour worked – in many Western economies has stagnated in recent years, particularly in the UK. A House of Commons Library paper notes: ‘Historically, UK labour productivity has grown by around two per cent per year but since the 2008/2009 recession it has risen more slowly’. In fact, productivity has barely improved at all for a decade and a half. But might artificial intelligence (AI) technologies change all that – particularly in the services sector?
There are areas where it is hard to see where AI could make a big difference, such as one-to-one personal services like nursing or hairdressing. There is also the question of how the massive data centres will be powered at a time when Net Zero policies mean cutting energy production rather than raising it is the order of the day.
What will be the impact of AI on the economy? Is this just the latest tech hype that will blow over when rose-tinted expectations aren’t fulfilled – or are we simply at the start of a workplace revolution that will provide new impetus to the economy?
The speakers on the panel are:
Tom Bewick - visiting professor of skills and workforce policy, Staffordshire University; fellow, Royal Society of Arts
Donald Clark - learning tech entrepreneur; investor; professor; author, Learning and the Metaverse; founder, Epic plc; CEO, WildFire
Dr Norman Lewis - visiting research fellow, MCC Brussels; co-author, Big Potatoes: the London manifesto for innovation
Andrew Orlowski - writer and critic; business columnist, Daily Telegraph
The chair is: Timandra Harkness - journalist, writer and broadcaster; author, Technology is Not the Problem and Big Data: does size matter?; presenter, Radio 4's FutureProofing and How to Disagree
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30
Thank You.
#AIRevolution
#UKProductivity
#futureofwork
UK productivity – output per hour worked – in many Western economies has stagnated in recent years, particularly in the UK. A House of Commons Library paper notes: ‘Historically, UK labour productivity has grown by around two per cent per year but since the 2008/2009 recession it has risen more slowly’. In fact, productivity has barely improved at all for a decade and a half. But might artificial intelligence (AI) technologies change all that – particularly in the services sector?
There are areas where it is hard to see where AI could make a big difference, such as one-to-one personal services like nursing or hairdressing. There is also the question of how the massive data centres will be powered at a time when Net Zero policies mean cutting energy production rather than raising it is the order of the day.
What will be the impact of AI on the economy? Is this just the latest tech hype that will blow over when rose-tinted expectations aren’t fulfilled – or are we simply at the start of a workplace revolution that will provide new impetus to the economy?
The speakers on the panel are:
Tom Bewick - visiting professor of skills and workforce policy, Staffordshire University; fellow, Royal Society of Arts
Donald Clark - learning tech entrepreneur; investor; professor; author, Learning and the Metaverse; founder, Epic plc; CEO, WildFire
Dr Norman Lewis - visiting research fellow, MCC Brussels; co-author, Big Potatoes: the London manifesto for innovation
Andrew Orlowski - writer and critic; business columnist, Daily Telegraph
The chair is: Timandra Harkness - journalist, writer and broadcaster; author, Technology is Not the Problem and Big Data: does size matter?; presenter, Radio 4's FutureProofing and How to Disagree
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30
Thank You.
