How AI is shrinking the job market for teens

January 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Format: Host-led discussion with embedded interviews.
The Key Players:
- Hosts: Wayland Wong and Steven Bisaha (NPR Planet Money reporters); Wong brings economic data expertise, Bisaha adds personal finance angle amid his transition to NPR's personal finance role.
- Guest: Carissa Tang, 17-year-old Silicon Valley high school senior and research prodigy; credible via self-directed BLS analysis, cold-email research assistant role under UCLA's George Geis (faculty advisor impressed by her MBA/PhD-level output).
- Advisor: George Geis, UCLA Business School faculty; validates Tang's rigor across 100+ assistants.
The Vibe: Reflective and proactive—fear of AI job loss tempered by adaptive optimism.

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1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Carissa Tang**
2 (02:41) **Carissa's Boba Shop Observation**
3 (04:47) **Carissa's Research Methodology**
4 (06:25) **Key Findings on AI Job Displacement**
5 (07:37) **Importance of Teen Jobs and Policy Ideas**
6 (09:34) **Carissa's Future and AI Views**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Karissa Tang is a 17-year-old in California who got curious about the impact of AI on typical teen jobs like cashiers and fast food counter workers. She embarked on an ambitious economic research project and shares her findings with us.

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How much is AI actually affecting the workforce?
AI creates, transforms and destroys... jobs
When does youth employment become child labor?

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