7 Career Strategies for the Age of AI
As human work evolved, it gradually shifted from tangible to intangible.
Manual work, craft work, industry work, clerical work, and now, knowledge work, where many of us sit today.
We assumed AI would follow the same path. It seems we were wrong.
AI is disrupting work in reverse, starting with knowledge jobs.
What does this mean for you if you are a knowledge worker today? What can you do to prepare for the AI-driven future?
I have put together 7 career strategies that can help you navigate the time ahead.
Read below or download the full set of slides here.
Reverse Disruption
Work has evolved from tangible manual work to intangible knowledge work over centuries. Surprisingly, AI is disrupting this sequence by targeting knowledge work first, rather than starting with physical tasks. Since knowledge work is already digitized and language-based, it’s more accessible to AI, challenging our assumptions about which jobs are safe from automation.
Are you a knowledge worker? Let’s look at 7 career strategies for an AI-driven world.
Artist
Artists create unique, original works that are hard to replicate, spanning traditional arts or broader creative fields like design, thought-leadership and culture. These creations carry a distinctly human touch that people will value. In an AI-driven world, human originality and creativity will remain irreplaceable. People are likely to continue valuing authenticity and the emotional appeal of human-made creations, making this a resilient career path.
Runner
Runners use AI to enhance their existing skills, making their work faster, better, and more efficient, such as automating tasks or scaling their output. They stay ahead by integrating AI within their expertise to achieve more. This strategy leverages AI to outperform non-AI users in the short term, offering a competitive edge. However, as AI capabilities grow, this advantage may fade, making it likely only a temporary strategy. However, it can serve as a launchpad for other strategies listed here.
Visionary
Visionaries imagine ambitious, innovative projects and lead teams of humans and AIs to bring these groundbreaking ideas to life. They focus on creating what didn’t exist before. Visionaries drive innovation by combining human originality, creativity and intuition with AI’s powerful capabilities, generating novel ideas and solutions that AI alone cannot conceive or implement. This positions them as leaders in an ever-evolving landscape for years to come.
Advocate
Advocates influence AI development to ensure it’s ethical and beneficial, working as AI ethicists, psychologists, policymakers or advisors. They shape AI’s future trajectory. As AI becomes increasingly integrated in our lives and in our society, the demand for ethical oversight and human-centric design will likely increase. Advocates play a crucial role in aligning AI technologies with societal good, securing its continued safety and relevance.
Builder
Builders use AI to craft practical solutions or launch innovative businesses, focusing on hands-on, tangible outcomes and initiatives valuable to society. They turn ideas into reality at incredible speed, partnering with AI every step of the way. This strategy blends human ingenuity and entrepreneurial drive with AI’s capabilities, to solve real-world problems and challenges. It focuses on tangible issues and builds practical solutions to address them in record speed.
Essentialist
Essentialists reduce reliance on technology, perhaps living off-grid or in less tech-centric areas, building an alternative way of life that moves at a different pace than the galloping AI economy. They step outside to build their own unique path and way to live. By avoiding the galloping AI economy, essentialists create a lifestyle less vulnerable to technological disruption. This path prioritizes simplicity and independence, offering stability in chaos.
Guide
Guides help others navigate the AI-driven changes happening around us, acting as coaches and interpreters who can explain complex technological shifts and help design actionable strategies in response. Guides can bridge the gap between fast-moving AI technology and people trying to adapt. They provide valuable insights and support, making their role indispensable in an era of rapid transformation.
