Pressing the Easy Button: How AI Habits Are Breaking Our Brains and Our Jobs
Show notes
In this episode of Impact of AI: Explored, Gerjon and James talk with Paul Slater - Principal AI Technologist at Adobe (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-slater/). We discus the often overlooked costs of AI, including human intellect, environmental, and societal impacts. We look at the importance of human control, responsible AI development, and maintaining human-centric values in the age of rapid AI evolution. We also dive into the Reverse Flynn effect which covers the decline in average IQ scores after peaking in the 1990s/2000s.
Key topics
* Costs of AI including human, environmental, and societal impacts
* The reverse Flynn effect and declining intelligence indicators
* The importance of human control and responsible AI development
* Habits and behaviors influenced by AI and technology
* Societal fragmentation and echo chambers caused by AI
Paul slater
Is a future-of-work expert, author, keynote speaker, and Principal AI Technologist. He spent over a decade at Microsoft, where he led global digital transformation initiatives and defined commercial strategy for the company's $1 billion life sciences business. He has since joined Adobe in a recent role. In 2020, he co-founded BillionMinds, a Techstars-backed company focused on human performance in the age of AI. He hosts the Humanity Working podcast and is active as a keynote speaker on the future of work. In early 2026, he published his book The AI-Ready Human: Your 90-Day Program to Stay Relevant as Technology Transforms Work", available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The book focuses on helping individuals and organizations navigate the impact of AI on the workplace — defining concepts such as AI-Builder, AI-Dominant, AI-Enabled, and AI-Resistant roles.
Chapters
00:00 The Hidden Costs of AI
06:13 Understanding the Reverse Flynn Effect
10:19 Human Control vs. AI Dependence
14:16 The Impact of AI on Social Interactions
18:03 Cultural Reflections on Technology in Media
19:20 Patterns in Human Interaction with Technology
23:24 The Evolving Fear of AI
25:38 Generational Perspectives on AI
28:10 Safeguarding a Human-Centric AI Future
33:04 Addressing Societal Fragmentation through AI
38:00 Embracing Humanity in an AI-Driven World
Resources
* Paul Slater's Book on AI Costs and Society (https://www.amazon.com/Your-Next-Job-Disappears-ebook/dp/B0C7V7X4X4)
* Paul Slater website: (https://paulslater.ai/)
* Podcast humanity working: (https://www.youtube.com/@humanityworking)
* European Union Guidelines on AI (https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/ai-act)
* Responsible AI Guidelines by Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/responsible-ai)
South Park Episode on AI and Society (http://southparkstudios.com/episodes/8byci4/south-park-deep-learning-season-26-ep-4)
Atomic Habits by James Clear (https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-James-Clear/dp/0735211299)
The Reverse Flynn Effect (https://www.develop.bc.ca/the-reverse-flynn-effect/)