"There would actually be a people shortage" | McKinsey’s Sven Smit & Anu Madgavkar on AI, Agents, Robots, and the $100-Trillion Economy.

The world is bracing for mass unemployment, but McKinsey Global Institute researchers Sven Smit and Anu Madgavkar suggest we might actually face a labor shortage.

As agents and robots move from theory to the office floor, the real friction isn't just the tech; it's our inability to learn as fast as the machines. This episode challenges the "soft skills" myth and explains why your AI strategy will fail if it lives in the IT budget.

Timestamps

• 07:05 – Why 80% automation might still lead to a labor shortage.

• 11:50 – The "Happy AI" trap: Why adding tools isn't the same as productivity.

• 19:20 – The blurring lines between knowledge workers and physical labor.

• 22:57 – Why "Soft Skills" are a dangerous trap for the next generation.

• 36:53 – Tasks vs. Workflows: The secret to 80% productivity gains.

• 49:08 – The Budget Error: Why AI belongs in the business P&L, not IT.