AI Anxiety: The Occupational Identity Crisis

Dr. Maha Hosain Aziz, an international relations professor at NYU and Global Foresight Advisor at the World Economic Forum, highlights the often-overlooked societal, economic, and psychological impacts of AI adoption. She explores the growing anxiety around job displacement and the emerging "occupational identity crisis" occurring as AI reshapes industries and how people define purpose and stability in their careers. She also reveals how shifts in world order, the rise of tech companies as powerful global actors, and increasing mental health concerns are all interconnected in the age of AI.

Key Takeaways: 

• Mental health challenges linked to AI-driven uncertainty

• The Rising reliance on AI for emotional support

• How global power dynamics are shifting as BigTech gains influence

• The "occupational identity crisis" as AI reshapes our relationship with work

Guest Bio:
Dr Maha Hosain Aziz has crafted a portfolio career in global risk and future trends based at NYU's MA International Relations Program: She is a professor leading the annual global risk prediction project with crowdsourced consultancy Wikistrat, and creating data-driven risk indices and apps; a risk and foresight expert advising the World Economic Forum; co-chair in AI policy at think tank The Digital Economist; and senior advisor (geopolitics) at impact firm Enlighten Advisory.

She has written a trilogy of books: 7-time award-winning bestseller Future World Order (2019 & 2025), Global Spring (2026) and 10 Shock Events By 2030 (2026). She created the 10-time award-winning VR/AR political comic The Global Kid (2021), which is based on the 7-time award-winning original comic she drew (2016). She's also working on Evolution (2026), a comic about global extremism.

She is a global citizen with Pakistani roots who grew up in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe and the US, studying at Brown (BA), Columbia (MA) and the LSE (MSc, PhD).

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte