A new book, edited by Professor of Practice, Political Science at NYU Abu Dhabi Nancy Gleason, explores how emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping the world of work, and what skills will matter most in the future. The book features contributions from Gleason’s students, who offer unique insights into the evolving workforce landscape.
As tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot become increasingly common in professional settings, questions around what it means to be “work-ready” are shifting. Humans Plus Technology: Global Youth Insights on the Future of Work brings fresh insight to this conversation by highlighting the views of young people entering today’s fast-changing job market.
The book covers topics such as automation of tasks, the rise of AI-enabled work, the reinvention of old jobs, and the risk of losing critical human skills. Rather than relying solely on expert opinion, the volume places students' voices at the center of the dialogue, offering grounded, global, and forward-looking takes on what skills are needed in an AI-powered world.
Gleason, who is also the Executive Director of the Hilary Ballon Center for Teaching and Learning at NYU Abu Dhabi, said: “This book is a product of NYU Abu Dhabi’s commitment to global learning and real-world engagement. Our students aren’t just studying the future of work; they’re shaping it. As the world moves rapidly toward increased automation and AI integration, it’s critical that we understand how young people are experiencing and preparing for this transformation. Their insights reflect the urgency of upskilling and the importance of rethinking education and employment for a ‘human + technology’ future. These are the conversations we need to be having, and the voices we need to be listening to.”
Associate Vice Provost in the Office of Undergraduate Education at NYU Abu Dhabi Lolowa Al Marzooqi, who contributed the book’s foreword, said: “This volume highlights the intellectual curiosity and global outlook that NYU Abu Dhabi fosters in its students. By engaging directly with the complexities of technological change, these young thinkers offer valuable insights that go beyond theory. Their work is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary education rooted in a rapidly diversifying economy in the UAE and the region.”
The book is now available for purchase online here. All alumni contributors to the volume were students in Professor Gleason’s Core Curriculum course at NYU Abu Dhabi on the future of work. These interdisciplinary classes bring together diverse fields to examine complex global challenges. The essays reflect how combining literature, economics, and technology can offer practical insights into building more sustainable futures.
