At CNBC’s CONVERGE LIVE event in Singapore, Operation HOPE CEO John Hope Bryant led a critical discussion on the future of work, emphasizing the urgent need for investment in AI education and workforce development, particularly for those at the “bottom of the pyramid.”
The panel, titled “The Future of Work in the Age of AI,” featured Bryant alongside Elizabeth Hart of Newmark and Peta Latimer of Mercer Asia, moderated by CNBC’s Julia Boorstin. The discussion centered on the profound implications of artificial intelligence on employment and economic structures.
“We are not spending nearly enough time focusing on the bottom of the pyramid,” Bryant stated, highlighting the rapid displacement of jobs in sectors like retail. He stressed that individuals with lower educational attainment and limited access to career development will be disproportionately affected by AI-driven job losses.
Bryant pointed to Singapore as a model for leveraging human capital, noting its transformation into an economic powerhouse through strategic investment in its workforce. He argued that the U.S. and other nations must adopt similar approaches to prioritize workforce training and ensure inclusive economic growth.
The panel explored the massive investments being made in AI infrastructure and automation. However, Bryant cautioned that without proactive policies, such as tax incentives for apprenticeships, financial literacy education, and AI workforce training, income inequality could worsen and lead to social disruptions.
“It’s not AI or people; it’s AI with people,” Bryant emphasized, advocating for the integration of AI with human capital investment. He cited Operation HOPE’s AI LP3 project, which partners with educational institutions to prepare students for AI-driven industries, as an example of this approach.
Bryant also addressed the U.S. national debt, arguing that expanding workforce participation through training and incentivizing the bottom 10-20% of the economic pyramid could significantly boost GDP growth.
“The greatest risk isn’t AI itself—it’s failing to prepare people for it,” Bryant concluded, urging business leaders and policymakers to prioritize AI literacy, financial literacy, and economic mobility.
Featured image credit: Operation HOPE
