20240606 The Princeton-Yale Ideas Series: The Last Human Job

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and labor-saving technologies like self-checkout and automated factories, the future of work has never been more uncertain, and even jobs requiring high levels of human interaction are no longer safe. The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World explores the human connections that underlie our work, arguing that what people do for each other in these settings is valuable and worth preserving.
Drawing on in-depth interviews and observations with people in a broad range of professions, author Allison Pugh, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia, develops the concept of “connective labor,” a kind of work that relies on empathy, the spontaneity of human contact, and a mutual recognition of each other’s humanity. She points out that in order to counteract the trend of depersonalization, we need to rebuild social relationships and find a sense of belonging and value in the practice of "being seen." This reflection on the value of connection between individuals is also reflected in the call by anthropologist Biao Xiang for "rebuilding nearby" and "the initial 500 meters": in an increasingly virtual era, individuals find it increasingly difficult to navigate their relationships with themselves, others, and society, from work to everyday life.
On June 6, author Allison Pugh engaged in online and offline discussions with Biao Xiang, director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, and Geng Tian, associate professor of sociology at Peking University, to explore the importance of mutual connection between people in the age of artificial intelligence.