Trendspotting Tomorrow – Michael Tchong’s Vision of AI

The CEO of Ford recently predicted that artificial intelligence could replace half of all white-collar jobs in the next few years. (Source: Ford Authority.)  That kind of pronouncement is jarring – but it captures the mix of excitement and anxiety many of us feel about AI today. As someone leading technology transformation at Synozur, I understand both sides of that coin. You likely do, too: on one hand, AI presents amazing opportunities to boost productivity and innovation; on the other, it raises real questions about jobs, skills, and how we as humans will fit into this new landscape.

In our latest Polaris podcast episode, I sat down with Michael Tchong, a renowned futurist and innovation expert, to unpack these very issues. Michael has spent decades spotting trends and helping organizations ride the waves of change – and the rise of AI is one of the biggest “waves” we’ve ever seen. As he puts it, “AI is the biggest revolution – even larger than the internet itself.” When you consider that ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months – faster than any app in history – you realize just how fast this revolution is moving.

You might be wondering: How do I ensure my organization isn’t left behind? Michael’s core advice is simple: be proactive. In his words, “I help you catch the next wave before it catches you.” For business and technology leaders, that means embracing AI’s potential now, not later. That aligns with a quip I shared (borrowed from John Oliver): AI isn’t going to replace people; people using AI will replace people who refuse to use it. In other words, the future belongs to those who adapt.

Some highlights of our discussion:

• AI adoption is accelerating, with even teens using chatbots like ChatGPT for emotional support, raising new ethical and societal questions for leaders and policymakers.

• Technology often outpaces social and policy responses, making it crucial for business leaders to proactively establish ethical guidelines and consider employee well-being in an AI-driven workplace.

• Despite concerns about job displacement, new technologies historically create new industries and human-centered roles.

• AI can automate routine tasks, freeing people to focus on creative, strategic, and relationship-driven work, thereby enhancing workplace fulfillment.

• Workflow automation is a key practical opportunity; tools like AI-powered scheduling assistants can eliminate repetitive tasks and increase productivity and morale.

• The future of effective business and marketing will rely on combining AI analytics with human imagination, emphasizing empathy and creativity to meet customer and employee needs.

  
  

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode to hear Michael’s predictions in detail – from the future of AI in hospitality (he has a fascinating take on how hotels might use AI to reinvent the check-in process) to the cultural shifts he sees as AI becomes more embedded in daily life.

Another key insight from our conversation was placing the AI upheaval in historical context. As I wrapped up the episode, I reflected on the story of the telegraph – something I often cite because it’s a powerful parallel. When the telegraph debuted in the 19th century, it utterly transformed communication. Suddenly news that took weeks to travel by ship or horse went worldwide in seconds. This led to amazing new capabilities (like instant stock quotes and cross-continental business deals) but also unintended side effects (startup scams like “wire fraud” thrived, and people even had to learn a new concise writing style “telegraphese” to communicate efficiently). Society had to adapt – and adapt it did. Within a few decades, the telegraph network shrank the world, and people even found ways to forge human connections through it (there’s a true story of telegraph operators who fell in love over the wires!).

The lesson: Every breakthrough is social before it’s technical. Technology changes how we live and work together, not just our gadgets.  

In my career, I’ve witnessed technology waves from the rise of cloud computing to the mobile revolution. Each brought its share of skeptics and cheerleaders – and in the end, each wave transformed how we do business in fundamental ways. AI is no different. It’s up to us to guide that transformation responsibly. Remember, “what changes the wires changes us.” 

Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks.

Credits

Polaris is produced with help from Riverside.fm. Our theme song, “Alternative Dream” is provided courtesy of Adobe.  Additional music and sound provided by IndieGuy Records. Graphic design by Josh Brantley.

Show Notes

Takeaways

AI’s Disruption Is Here: AI is already transforming work and society on a massive scale – a change many experts call even bigger than the internet revolution. Leaders can’t ignore it.

Adaptation Is Key: Rather than fearing automation, organizations must focus on upskilling talent and using AI to streamline workflows. Those who leverage AI will outpace those who don’t. In Michael’s words, “Everyone needs to upskill… that’s the only way you’re going to survive.” 

Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain: New tech often displaces jobs initially (especially entry-level roles). But if harnessed correctly, AI can boost productivity and create new opportunities – similar to how desktop publishing eventually made print bigger, not smaller.

Real Problems, Not Just “Me-Too” Tools: Michael argues today’s AI boom is filled with copycat chatbots. The real value will come from AI solving everyday pain points – for example, automating tedious workflows so people can focus on creative, high-value work.

Quality vs. Quantity: With generative AI, it’s now easy to pump out content – including low-quality “AI slop.” In the long run, either AI will learn to produce truly high-quality results, or people will seek out human authenticity. (Think of it as a “flight to humanity,” where authenticity becomes a differentiator.)

Stay Ahead of the Wave: Michael’s motto is, “I help you catch the next wave before it catches you.” The message: be proactive. Understand the trends (like AI) shaping your industry, and lead with them – don’t chase them after the fact.

Sound bites

Michael Tchong:

• “AI is the biggest revolution – even larger than the internet itself.” 

• “With AI, we’re going to get a 10× wave of unforeseen effects on society.” 

• “Everyone needs to upskill in AI – it’s the only way you’re going to survive.” 

• “The #1 pain point for everyone is: why does it take so freaking long to do anything? Workflow is the biggest opportunity for AI to boost productivity.” 

Chris McNulty:

• “Every breakthrough is social before it’s technical. What changes the wires changes us.” 

• “Either AI gets better at quality, or there will be a flight to humanity – people craving authentic, human work.” 

• “AI won’t replace people. But people using AI will replace those who don’t.” 

  
  

References

Michael Tchong

University of San Francisco – https://www.usfca.edu Michael Tchong serves as an adjunct professor of innovation at USF

Ubertrends – https://www.ubertrends.com Ubertrends Academy, Michael Tchong’s trend forecasting & innovation academy (and title of his book “Ubertrends – How Trends and Innovation Are Transforming Our Future”).

Michael Tchong on LinkedIn

Industry News

ChatGPT reached 100 million users in its first two months (Source: Ubertrends)

Only 17% of U.S. adults expect AI to have a mostly positive impact on society in the next 20 years (Source: Pew Research Center)

18% of work globally could be automated by AI, affecting 300 million roles (Source: Goldman Sachs)

Society & Culture

Open Letter on AI Pause – In 2023, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, and 1,000+ tech leaders signed an open letter urging a 6-month pause on advanced AI development, warning of “profound risks to society”[5].

Teens & AI Therapy –28% of parents report their teen has used AI for emotional support (Source: Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Connected Kids (2025))

Ford CEO on Jobs – Jim Farley (Ford Motors) predicted at Aspen Ideas Festival that “AI is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.”. (Source: Ford Authority.)

John Oliver’s Take – On HBO’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver discussed how it’s not going to be AI replacing lawyers; it’s going to be lawyers with AI replacing lawyers without it.

“The Victorian Internet” (book by Tom Standage) chronicles how the 19th-century telegraph revolutionized communication, spurring phenomena from instant stock quotes to the first “online” romances – a reminder that technology has long disrupted social norms.

Events

TribalNet Conference | September 14-18, 2025, Reno Nevada

London Tech Leaders’ Summit | October 7-8., 2025 Minster Building - right near the Tower of London - London UK 

Experts Live | October 10, 2025 at Microsoft NYC in Times Square

Vancouver AI Summit | October 19-20, 2025 Vancouver BC

TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX) - Irving Convention Center

Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA). 

ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland). 

Production

Polaris is produced with the help from Riverside.fm. Our theme song, “Alternative Dream” is provided courtesy of Adobe.  Additional music and sound provided by IndieGuy Records. Graphic design by Josh Brantley.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:11 Terms and Data Points

03:32 Introducing Michael Tchong

05:24 The Rise of AI and Its Impact

07:07 Future of Work and Labor Market

09:50 AI in Marketing and Business Transformation

11:20 Agentic AI

14:27 Conclusion and Future Directions

30:22 Cultural Influences

32:57 Upcoming Tech Events and Conferences

34:03 The Impact of Technology on Society

35:16 Closing