Humans Matter, too: Amazon Robotics, Anthropic and Duckbill Leaders on the Future of AI

Industry experts from Amazon Robotics, Anthropic and Duckbill agree that it’s OK to be skeptical about AI. But they also share optimism about leveraging technology to make jobs, and everyday life, more efficient. 

A panel gathered at WBUR CitySpace in Boston on October 29 to take a closer look at findings from the latest Bentley-Gallup Business for Society Report, including Americans’ lack of trust in businesses to use AI responsibly. The biggest skeptics? Young Americans.  

These and other topics provided the backdrop for a dynamic conversation with Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics; Meghan Verena Joyce, co-founder and CEO at Duckbill; and Richard Tibbetts, former engineering manager at Anthropic. The event — The Business of AI: Opportunity, Trust and What Comes Next — was moderated by Shirley Leung, columnist and associate editor at The Boston Globe. 

Humans Will Continue to Play a Big Role in AI  

Though survey findings show that part of Americans’ mistrust of AI is tied to the potential for it to reduce the number of jobs in the next decade, panelists agreed that humans will have a very big role to play in the AI world.

“We need to really think about the job and break it down and identify what parts are actually amenable to being improved with AI,” Tibbetts said, using the example of valuable human relationships that a trader has with counterparties. “The thing that separates successful projects from the less successful projects is a specific understanding of the job that you’re looking at, the outcomes that you’re trying to understand, and a willingness to reshape the structure of it to be a hybrid between your existing human experts and an AI that can automate some of the toil.” 

Brady shared a similar view of a hybrid approach. “If technology makes sense, that’s where you find success. If you solve the problem that helps people, that allows people to do their jobs safer and more productively — and to have a tool at hand to really elevate their profession — then that’s the win. But there’s no substitute for humans, for natural intelligence. I believe in the power of people.” 

It’s up to Companies to Demonstrate the Value of AI 

The lack of trust that Americans have in businesses to use AI responsibly decreased from last year. And it’s up to businesses to change that. 

“To put any technology out into the world without any kind of human in the loop is a technology in search of a purpose, and not a problem that you are leveraging technology to solve,” Joyce said. “We view it as our job to evaluate that on behalf of consumers and not make them think about what AI should be doing. But to create a product that delivers genuine value in their lives every day, and if it uses AI to do that in a more affordable way, that’s magic.” 

The day opened with remarks from Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite: “As businesses race to take advantage of the power and potential of AI, it is imperative for leaders to address concerns about how technology is created and how it is deployed.”  

Gallup Senior Partner Stephanie Marken followed with an overview of the survey findings, emphasizing the need to consider the various applications of AI when it comes to trust — driving a car or helping with learning versus recommending individuals for and an employer to hire.

Bentley students were among the approximately 60 attendees who showed up for the event, which included networking, a panel discussion and a Q&A session.

WBUR CitySpace at the Lavine Broadcast Center is located on Boston’s historic Commonwealth Avenue and sits on the banks of the Charles River.

Why Innovation Requires Fearlessness 

Most young Americans (ages 18–29) don’t trust businesses to responsibly use AI, the highest of any age group. Joyce emphasized the need to address people’s innate avoidance to change in order to show the value of AI and build trust. 

“The number one thing that we should all be focused on and the biggest gift we can give our children and our students is a fearlessness for change,” Joyce said. “In a moment where nothing is certain, anything is possible. The ability to lean into that change and be an optimistic leader is the number one most important thing. And the more we can encourage ourselves and our students and our kids to not be afraid of that, the better off we will all be.”