Welcome to the inaugural episode of Upskill or Die: Thriving in the AI Revolution! Hosts Misty and Peter Phillip dive into how artificial intelligence is disrupting industries at breakneck speed—and why the ability to adapt is more urgent than ever.

Misty and Peter, co-authors of the book "Upskill or Die: Thriving in the AI Revolution," share their deep experience in cybersecurity, enterprise technology, and the evolving podcasting world. In this episode, they set the stage for what “upskill or die” truly means, break down the basics of AI, and discuss its fast-approaching impact on jobs and daily life.

 Key Topics Covered

Why Upskill or Die?

  - The urgency behind the book’s title and why now is the time to adapt

  - AI’s rapid speed of change, from months and years to days and weeks

What is Artificial Intelligence, Really?

  - Explaining AI, machine learning, and large language models (like ChatGPT)

  - The ubiquity of AI in everyday tech—from photo editing apps to traffic lights

AI’s Impact Across Industries

  - Real-world examples: IBM’s replacement of thousands of HR roles with agentic AI

  - The ripple effect on white-collar jobs, healthcare, legal professions, designers, programmers, and more

Agentic AI: The Next Frontier

  - What is agentic and autonomous AI, and how is it replacing teams of workers?

  - Realities of jobs being replaced and the rise of ‘agent teams’ that can clone, deploy, and manage complex tasks

Who Thrives (and Who Doesn’t): Upskilling Strategies

  - Which roles are at risk, which are in demand, and why AI-literate workers are positioned to succeed

  - The concept of ‘vibe coding’—building software with natural language rather than coding expertise

Urgent Paradigm Shifts

  - Stories of real layoffs due to AI adoption

  - Case studies: consulting giants like McKinsey and emerging construction robotics

Job Opportunities & Upskilling Pathways

  - Why trades and hands-on jobs (electricians, HVAC, plumbers) may offer resilience

  - The importance of proactively learning to work alongside AI rather than against it

Societal Concerns

  - Energy and water consumption impacts from massive data centers

  - AI ethics, bias, and the dangers of unchecked or malicious AI models

The Road Ahead

  - Where AI is headed, from artificial general intelligence (AGI) to potential existential risks

  - Steps listeners can take to start upskilling today

Resources Mentioned

Book: Upskill or Die: Thriving in the AI Revolution* by Misty and Peter Phillip

Connect with Misty & Peter Phillip on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistyphillip/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterphillip/