What happens when employment itself is declared obsolete—and a new model emerges, powered by AI, decentralized by design, and built around human value instead of job titles? Is traditional employment going away?

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Deborah Perry Piscione, cofounder of the Work3 Institute and coauthor of Employment Is Dead, to explore what comes next when the employer-employee model no longer fits the world we live in.

From blockchain-based compensation to decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and the rise of billion-dollar companies with no employees, Deborah lays out a provocative but optimistic roadmap for a post-employment future. Together, they unpack why the 9-to-5 job is dissolving, what’s replacing it, and how we can redesign work to be more human, fair, and purposeful. Deborah shares why the old social contract is collapsing, how families and communities might re-emerge as economic anchors, and what today’s workers—and leaders—need to know about thriving in a world where AI handles the skills and people bring the purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the job, how to build meaning and value in a world without fixed employment, or how to prepare for the seismic shifts already underway—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

https://youtu.be/zu1uvgRcCDY

Guest Information:

Deborah Perry Piscione is cofounder of the Work3 Institute, an AI and Web3 advisory firm. She is also a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and innovation and future-of-work thought leader. She is the author of multiple books, including the New York Times bestseller Secrets of Silicon Valley. She was previously a staffer in the U.S. Congress and at the White House, and she served as an on-air commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.

Chapters:

00:00 – Is Employment Dead?
01:40 – Why the Job Market Is Changing Faster Than Expected
03:00 – What Will Be Left for Humans to Do?
05:25 – Is the Traditional Career Path Still Relevant?
07:00 – How Blockchain and DAOs Could Replace Companies
08:30 – What Happens When AI Does All the Work?
10:10 – Can One Person Build a Billion-Dollar Business?
11:30 – Will We Still Need Human Creativity in an AI World?
13:30 – What Is the New Social Contract for Work?
15:20 – Can Governments Redesign Economic Safety Nets?
17:30 – Will the Future of Work Be More Community-Based?
19:10 – What Should Young People Do in a Post-Employment World?
21:10 – Are College Degrees Still Worth It in the Age of AI?
22:00 – How Do You Build a Portfolio Career?
23:00 – Why We Need New Models for Learning and Work