Live: Anthropic co-founder on AI and jobs

In this live episode of Planet Money from the book tour, host Erika Barris and co-host Kenny Malone interview Jack Clark, co-founder of Anthropic, about the accelerating impact of AI on work, economy, and society. Clark shares his speculative fiction writings that envision a future where AI controls entire production systems—from design to distribution—raising urgent questions about human relevance, economic redistribution, and the need for new social contracts. He discusses Anthropic's powerful new AI model, Mythos, which is being tested by major companies like Apple, Google, and J.P. Morgan for cybersecurity purposes, emphasizing that AI’s capabilities are not just tools but systemic forces requiring ethical foresight. Clark expresses both excitement and trepidation about the future, advocating for a reimagined education system that nurtures childlike curiosity and a society where AI serves as a public utility rather than a profit-driven weapon. The episode also features Daryl Fairweather, a behavioral economist and chief economist at Redfin, who explains how economic principles are embedded in everyday life—from Amazon’s employee retention strategies to dynamic pricing on rideshare and grocery apps—and uses the metaphor of 'musical chairs' to illustrate the housing crisis, urging communities to consider future residents in zoning decisions. Together, the conversations explore how technology and economics are reshaping human experience, with calls for empathy, innovation, and systemic reform. Key takeaways include: 1) AI is rapidly automating complex, high-skill tasks, requiring a rethinking of capitalism and income distribution; 2) The future of work may involve humans as reviewers and curators of AI-generated output, not creators; 3) AI's dual nature as both threat and tool demands ethical stewardship and public utility models; 4) Education must evolve to preserve curiosity and critical thinking; 5) Housing policy must prioritize future generations through inclusive zoning reforms; 6) Economic incentives often conflict with fairness, and behavioral economics can help design more humane systems; 7) Dynamic pricing, while efficient, can feel unfair and erode trust; 8) Empathy must be central to economic decision-making, especially in housing and urban planning.