AI Impact on The Future of Work (Your Job is at Risk)

Last week, I was speaking to a friend in a low to mid-level tech job.

He was complaining about how he was getting let go because the company was “restructuring” and “cutting costs.”

But we both knew he was getting replaced by AI.

If developers aren’t safe, what makes you think any other industry is?

AI tools are drafting legal documents, and robots assemble cars and pack your items at Amazon.

Not even artists are safe.

But this isn’t about fear-mongering.

It’s about understanding the shift and positioning ourselves to thrive in a world where adaptability is the new job security.

You have to become an Autodidact Polymath.

2. A Brief History of Work: How We Got Here

Our idea of work hasn’t always existed.

As in the idea of trading time for money.

Early humans worked in:

• hunting
• gathering
• subsistence farming
• artisanal crafts
• trade

But the real change came during the Industrial Revolution.

Machines replaced manual labor, cities expanded, and jobs became the backbone of economies.

Fast forward to the early 20th century, Henry Ford’s assembly line ushered in the 40-hour workweek – a structure we still cling to today.

This entire concept of “jobs” (as in trading time for money within structured organizations) is barely 200 years old.

It’s a temporary structure that’s already showing cracks.

This shift was driven by mechanization, urbanization, and the rise of factories, which created the employer-employee dynamic we recognize today.

Prior to this, most work was self-directed.

3. Why This Shift Feels Different: The Acceleration of Change

In the past, these transitions took a damn long time.

Generations.

The switch from agriculture to industry spanned decades, giving people time to adapt.

Now?

Everything could be different tomorrow.

Can you imagine your phone holds more computing power than NASA had during the Apollo missions?

Crazy right?

AI can literally perform just about any task better than humans (except for creativity).

Technology doesn’t inch forward – it leaps.

The curve is exponential.

The result? A treadmill effect.

Just when you catch up, the pace increases. And there’s no pause button.

I mean notice how you can’t keep up with all the different technological advancements these days as an average person.

There’s something new happening with AI every day.

And just when you think “Nice, I finally became proficient at this tool, process, or concept,” it becomes obsolete.

And it’s only going to get “worse” from here on out.

Believe me, I’m scared too.

4. The Big Problem: Transition Anxiety and the Ostrich Effect

Let’s be real – change is uncomfortable.

When faced with the unknown, our brains default to fight or flight mode.

• Transition anxiety: The fear of adapting to something unfamiliar, even if the old way is broken.
• The ostrich effect: Ignoring the problem, hoping it’ll somehow resolve itself.

That’s just human nature.

Don’t tell me you’re immune to this, if so, you’re an outlier.

Don’t tell me you LOVE it.

Because I’m gonna call bullsh*t.

Those that thrive are simply the ones who accept it’s a necessary hurdle to overcome.

Most of us aren’t wired like that.

But here’s the hard truth…

Ignoring the shift doesn’t stop it.

It just means you risk being left behind.

I love hovering around the status quo too.

But I also know if I get too comfortable, I don’t progress.

I regress.

And the same applies to everyone because the world and society wait for no one.

5. Understanding the Future Landscape of Work

AI isn’t coming for your job – it’s already here.

According to the IMF, 60% of global jobs may be impacted by AI.

But “impacted” doesn’t mean extinction.

Actually, scratch that.

It could very well be the end of most jobs.

The future divides work into two categories:

• Complementary roles: Jobs where AI enhances productivity (e.g., judges using AI for research).
• Replaceable roles: Jobs where AI fully automates the process (e.g., AI agents removing the need for clerks, data analysts/scientists, and other low-level roles).

It’s gonna happen one way or another.

6. The Benefits of Embracing Change

Let’s flip the narrative.

This isn’t just about survival, it’s about seizing new opportunities.

• Early adopter advantage: Think about the first businesses that embraced the Internet. They didn’t just survive – they dominated. Those that didn’t? Well, you don’t hear about them. The same will happen with AI.
• Productivity boost: AI can slash work times, allowing you to do more in less time, and freeing space for creativity and innovation. That sounds like a threat to your job, but it’s also an opportunity to run your own business without a team (a.k.a Solopreneur).
• Innovation boom: Entire industries are emerging around AI. From automated customer service to AI-driven medical diagnostics and advanced robotics, the future is fertile ground for pioneers.

7. How to Prepare for the Future of AI-Dominated Work

I’ll be brutally honest here.

I’m not really sure myself as I don’t have a crystal ball.

Most “geniuses” couldn’t even predict the post-internet boom era.

But I have some recommendations:

1. Be an early adopter: Start small. Use AI tools in your daily tasks, not wait for them to become the norm.
2. Choose the right environment: If you’re still in a 9-5, work for companies that see AI as an ally, not a threat. Surround yourself with forward-thinkers. Not stubborn dinosaurs.
3. Hands-on learning: Play with AI. Use IDEs (interactive development environments) like v0, cursor, or lovable to build apps. Use AI writing software to make content. Tinker, fail, learn.
4. Keep up with AI trends: If you haven’t already, make an X account and follow various AI creators to stay on the cutting edge. Mainstream media is dead. It’s slow, unreliable, and untruthful.

I know people in my immediate circle (family, friends, and colleagues) who reject this entire concept.

“It’s a scam”

“AI and robots can’t replace humans”

“I don’t trust it”

Well, I can’t be bothered to convince any of them.

The same thing happened during the crypto boom.

The idea didn’t align with their worldview, they didn’t understand it so they labeled it as a scam and a phenomenon that was just another fad.

Sure, many were scams. But the same applies to everything new.

So keep your tap dancing shoes on and be in the trenches.

Else, you’ll really be left behind.

8. Conclusion: The New Social Contract

The nature of work is evolving – and that’s not bad.

We’re moving towards a world where traditional work becomes optional and serves life, not the other way around.

And value exchange will be in a totally different form.

I highly suggest you don’t reject it or wait for society to find a place for you.

Because nobody is coming to help you.

That’s all I have today.

Talk soon,

Brendan