In this episode, Nick and Geoff review the fictional post-mortem report from Citrini Research that evaluates how we got to a June 2028 economy characterized by higher unemployment and lower stock valuations (hint: rapid AI advancement outpaces workforce adaptation). They explore the short-term and long-term implications for the workforce and corporate strategies.

Key Takeaways:

• The Citrini scenario imagines unemployment surpassing 10% by 2028, driven largely by white-collar layoffs as AI boosts efficiency and reduces the need for human labor
• Block’s 40% workforce reduction illustrates a “rip the bandage off” strategy: accelerating AI adoption immediately rather than managing gradual layoffs that could erode morale
• Companies like Meta and Accenture are tying AI usage to performance reviews and promotions, signaling that AI fluency may become a core competency
• Organizations that educate, evangelize, and share AI success stories may see productivity gains without immediate workforce disruption but long-term structural risks remain