Sabina Angelini

Writing in the Media

Prof. Guiterrez

Fall 2017 – JCU

Podcast

Podcast Show Name:

“Keeping up with the Sharing Economy”

Podcast Episode Title:

“The Evolution from Sharing to Autonomous Economy”

Author:

Sabina Angelini

Podcast Opening

Theme song: Can I kick it? –

A Tribe Called Quest

(0:00-0:25 secs)

Prelude

TedTalk “What a driverless

world could look like” Wanis

Kabbaj

Min. 9:12 to 10:27

[Bed music in background]

“…As if walking in a city buzzing with drones, flying

taxis, modular buses and suspended magnetic pods, was

not exotic enough, I think there’s another force in action

that will make urban traffic mesmerizing. If you think

about it, the current generation of driverless cars, is just

trying to earn its way into a traffic grid made by and for

humans. They’re trying to learn traffic rules, which is

relatively simple, and coping with human unpredictability,

which is more challenging. But what will happen when

whole cities become driverless? Would we need traffic

lights? Would we need lanes? How about speed limits? - 1 -

[…] In the first driverless city, you would have no red

lights and no lanes. And when all cars are driverless and

connected, everything is predictable, and reaction time,

minimum. They can drive much faster, and can take any

rational initiative that can speed them up or the cars around

them”.

Bumper Transition (5

seconds) Song: Mura Masa -

Lovesick

Pre-Intro

(8 seconds)

Hello and welcome to everyone listening to Keeping Up

with the Sharing Economy Podcast! This is your host

speaking, Sabina Angelini. I’ll be sharing, discussing and

keeping you updated, once a week, with the latest on this

recent form of economy, known as, the Sharing Economy.

Bumper Transition (5

seconds) Song: Mura Masa -

Lovesick

Intro – Podcast Overview

(15 seconds)

Today’s episode, Monday 13th of November, treats

something frightening and exciting at the same time,

regarding our future: the evolving of the sharing economy,

into the “autonomous economy”. Stay tuned to learn more,

on driverless cars and flying drones, and the consequences

they bring, such as, unemployment. We’ll also hear from

the point of view of our guests, Nicole Franchini, from - 2 -

Italy, and Jeremiah Owyang, from San Francisco. I’ll also

share a review on Uber’s driverless car I personally tested!

Keep up with us for more interesting details!

Transition Sweeper (10

seconds)

Segment 1: EDITORIAL

(8 min)

SFX: Wall-e Robot sound

If you ask anyone,

“What do you think the future will be like?”,

a common answer you’ll get is how hi-tech efficiency,

robots, and driverless transportation will prevail over

everything. Whenever I think of the future, I imagine all of

this too, envisioning scenes I saw in movies like: I, Robot or

Wall-e, [SFX] where robots are civilized, and anything’s

given to us, by tapping a screen or a button. Daily tasks are

finally stress-free!

Scary and surprisingly enough, we’re not very far in time

from all of this happening. But let’s take a few steps back,

before we wander off into the [emphasize] future [SFX:

technology/computer sounds]. Although we might not realize

it, we’re already living in it.

Today, we can have anything we need, by tapping on our

smartphones’ screens. Food, services, transportation… you

name it. In fact, thanks to the sharing economy, we’re

learning how to share something of ours, which we wouldn’t

otherwise use, for the sake of wasting less, and earning

- 3 -

more.

Need a ride somewhere?

A parking spot?

Want to lend my lawnmower?

Or even sleep in my apartment while I’m on vacation

somewhere else?

We’re surrounded by easy methods to get a service, in the

simplest and fastest way possible.

I bet you’ve tried one of these services, at least once.

Uber, Airbnb, JustEat… I could go on forever.

But, with technology moving at such a fast pace, the sharing

economy is already becoming outdated.

It’s evolving into something new, something that came as a

shocker to me, as I hadn’t even considered this concept

before: the “autonomous economy”.

Yes, you heard right. We’ll be hearing the word autonomy a

whole lot more in the upcoming years.

For those of you unaware, of what the future reserves for us,

predictions involve some serious technology-based changes.

Human intelligence and machines will be working closely

together, creating, what is known to be as artificial

intelligence. Driverless cars will pick us up, instead of the

current car-sharing drivers, wheeled and flying drones will

take care of delivery, and -here comes the scary part- most

manufactured job will be replaced by machines, as stated by

CEO and industry analyst, Jeremiah Owyang.

Shocking, I know!

As I said before, the most frightening part of it all, is the rise - 4 -

of unemployment, nurtured by technological automation.

What’ll be left for us to do when everything will be replaced

by machines?

I think it’s kind of sad, don’t you?

The brutal part is that, whether we like it or not, we’ll

eventually have to adapt to this process. By 2021, we’ll

witness the inception of an autonomous economy, powered

by artificial intelligence.

We’re already living these changes today.

Think about it: how many times have you called a company,

say, because your TV wasn’t working, and you had to

answer questions asked by a machine with a robotic voice?

Have you noticed those automatic cash registers in your

local supermarket?

Think about how many workers have already been

substituted by a machine.

To what extent will technology take us? Will finding a job

become even more problematic than it is today?

There’s no right answer to these questions. After all, the

future’s called future because it’s unpredictable…

What do you guys think? Let me know your thoughts, by

leaving a comment on our Facebook page, Keeping up with

the sharing economy.

Stay tuned on our podcast, as in a few seconds we’ll hear

today’s guests’ opinions on the autonomous economy!

We’ve conducted an interview with Nicole Franchini, writer

and marketing expert who gives classes to different

university students, on Italy’s tourism industry. Right up - 5 -

next!

Transition

Sweeper – Theme song: Can I

kick it? – A Tribe Called

Quest

(0:00-0:15 sec)

Segment 2: INTERVIEW

(10 min)

And we’re back! Today is Monday 13th of November, and

you’re listening to: Keeping up with the sharing economy

podcast, hosting me, Sabina Angelini!

Here with us to discuss the autonomous economy and its

consequences, Nicole Franchini!

I know you’re all curious to know who our guest is and

what she does… Nicole writes guides on where to stay in

Italy, and she’s a marketing and tourism expert. Nicole

travelled extensively, and knows basically anything about

accommodations and hospitality, having worked in the

U.S., England and Italy.

Occasionally, Nicole gives classes in various universities

across Italy on the tourism industry.

[SFX applause]

Hello Nicole, and thank you for being here with us today!

[Voice Recording attached in email with interview]

Questions:

1. So, since you travel a lot for work, I imagine you

make us of sharing economies, right? I’d like to start

off by asking you: which shared economy do you - 6 -

usually make use of? And, if so, how often do you

rely on it?

2. What do you think of this concept of sharing

economy? The fact that people are finding ways to

share more, and earn money. Share a car ride, a

parking spot, a useful tool… Do you think it’s a

clever idea?

3. And I’m sure you’ve heard of driverless cars coming

into the market… But in addition to that, flying

drones and automatic check-ins will spread, giving

the rise to a new form of sharing economy, let’s say,

an evolution of it: the autonomous economy. In other

terms, the world's future. Services will be provided

by automated machines. This might be a big problem

for employment…. And overall, a huge change.

We’d like to know, what are your thoughts

regarding? Were you aware of this shift?

4. Lastly, what do you think the reaction of people will

be? Do you see people reacting differently

depending on the country, say, for example, Italy

versus the U.S.?

Well, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Nicole.

It has been a pleasure to have a chat with you, here at

Keeping up with the sharing economy podcast.

Transition Sweeper – Theme

song: Can I kick it? – A Tribe

Called Quest

- 7 -

(0:00-0:15 sec)

Segment 3: REVIEW

(10 min)

Bed music: Jey Vazz – Focus

feat. Paige

Today, I want to share with all of you listening, my

experience driving Uber’s driverless car. This past

weekend, we flew to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, especially

for this.

Side note: in case you didn’t know, Uber launched its

driverless car system in 2016, but they’ve been transporting

passengers to their destinations since 2009.

Here goes my experience guys.

This past Saturday, I went to Uber’s headquarters, and

tested one of Uber’s white Ford Fusion. The cars were

provided with lasers, cameras, and GPS sensors. The Ford I

drove had “Uber – advanced technologies center” written

in black and grey on the front doors’ exterior. I thought

those driverless cars are goofy-looking. They each have a

platform on top of them, incorporated with seven cameras

and sensors, so they can sense the environment around

them and drive in any condition.

Let me describe for you what’s inside of the car: a screen,

in between the two leathered-front seats, is available for

passengers in the back, to swipe and start their trip. The

screen also shows everything the car sees, in real time. A

map indicates every detail of the road and the surroundings.

Jeffrey, an Uber expert who was there to guide me, gave

me insights on how everything worked. He said, since this

technological way of transportation is still fresh, the car

can’t drive completely autonomously. A driver and an

engineer still need to sit in the front to control and take - 8 -

notes.

So, after test driving as a passenger in the backseat, I had

the chance to drive Uber’s selfless car. We stopped on

Chancellor street, and I switched places with the driver, as

the engineer stayed in his seat.

Since these cars still need human intervention, I had to

keep an eye on the road and my hands close to the stirring

wheel.

During our ten-minute drive, the car was doing everything

itself, but I was told to keep my foot near the brake and my

hands ready, in case of an emergency.

This made me think: to what extent can we trust a car? I

don’t even trust some people I know!!!

[SFX: laughter]

Jokes aside, the experience was amazing. I mean, I actually

drove with “no hands”!

Plus, the car autonomously activates blinkers, turns,

accelerates and breaks. I’m still a little concerned about

safety restrains…

Well folks, what more to say?

This world is full of surprises… I can’t believe how much

we’ve evolved!

[SFX: “Started from the bottom now we’re here” lyrics

sung by Drake]

Have you guys ever experienced a driverless car? Let me

know your thoughts by leaving a comment on our

Facebook page, Keeping up with the sharing economy. I’m

- 9 -

truly interested in what your opinions are!

Stay with us, ‘cause coming up next is our last guest of the

day, Jeremiah Owyang!

Music break: Louis the Child

– It’s Strange (30 seconds)

Segment 4: INTERVIEW

(8 minutes)

Bed Music: Best of The Sound

You Need (TSYN) | Vol. 2

(0:00-8:00 min)

Here with us, Jeremiah Owyang! [SFX: applause]

Hello and welcome to Keeping up with the sharing

economy, Mister Owyang!

J.O.: Hello to you Sabina, and to everyone listening.

Thank you for having me. Oh, and please, call me

Jeremiah.

S: Sure will do! Can I have the pleasure to introduce you to

our listeners?

J.O.: Oh yes, go ahead!

S.: Ok so, Jeremiah is joining us today from San Francisco,

Silicon Valley. He’s the founder of Crowd Companies, an

innovation council for large companies, to learn new

business model opportunities. Correct?

J.O.: Yes, exactly. We’ve been involved for the past ten

years, more or less, since the sharing economy movement

was born.

S.: Jeremiah is an expert in this field! Actually, I first read

about the autonomous economy entering our world, in one

of your articles. Could you share with us your opinion on - 10 -

this subject?

J.O.: Well, as I said many times before, I believe the

autonomous economy is the future state when, intelligent

technology systems, will operate without human

participation, and enable new business models in a more

efficient society. However, it’s true that many people are

still unaware of this shift, but, it is happening.

S.: and what will the effect be on the future of work?

J.O.: Well, it’ll be good and bad… workers will rely on

robots, to get their work done, for cheaper. But, they might

be replaced by them completely. I think the best thing to do

for workers, is to develop new skills, to manage

technological advancements.

S.: Wow, this will be a huge impact on our society…

J.O.: Yes, huge. This is why, we need to start to adapt to it

psychologically. Some companies are introducing this

system already. The stars of ride-sharing, such as Uber and

Lyft, are preparing to launch their self-driving cars soon.

S.: So, the autonomous economy will make us even

lazier… I already order everything from my laptop. But I

know you have a theory about this, so I want to alert

everything listening: forget the chance of falling in love,

with a cute delivery boy or girl. [SFX: laughter] Tell us

why, Jeremiah.

J.O.: [laughs] Well, one obsession of today’s tech world, is

certainly the idea of delivering packages with drones.

Whether they will be flying or wheeled. For example, in

Australia, Domino’s Pizza delivery has been tested with a - 11 -

3-foot-tall wheeled drone. It speeds up to twelve-point-five

miles-per-hour, and transports up to ten pizzas.

These drones already have competition, between Amazon’s

drones, UPS, and Flirtey. But regulations and laws are still

being discussed…

S.: Incredible. I’m amazed and scared at the same time!

[laughs]

[Bumper transition: SFX technological robot/computer

sounds]

S.: Thank you for your time, Jeremiah! It’s been a pleasure,

to hear the opinion and ideas of an expert like you! Maybe

next time you’ll be with us, all this autonomy will already

be normal to see! Who knows?!

J.O.: Oh, for sure! Thank you, for having me!

S.: …And with this interview, we wrap up today’s episode

of Keeping up with the sharing economy.

Sweeper (10 seconds)

Outro (1 min)

Bed Music: Jey Vazz – Focus

feat. Paige

That’s all for today. [SFX: Sad “Owww” by group of

people] Stay tuned on our following episode, next Monday,

where we’ll be talking about an emerging sharing

economy, for lazy ones like me, called Glovo… and much

more.

I’ve been your host, Sabina Angelini.

Thanks for listening and remember to Keep up with the

sharing economy, by visiting our Facebook page, or w-w-

- 12 -

w-dot-JCU-communications-dot-e-d-u’s website.

Closing (30 seconds)

Song: Best of The Sound You

Need (TSYN) | Vol. 2 -

Youtube

- 13 -