AI and the Future of Work: What to Do Now

At a glance: Inspired by Matt Schumer’s article Something Big Is Happening, this post explores why awareness and preparation matter now, not later. The real risk isn’t AI itself, it’s being outpaced by people who know how to use it effectively.

Business owners and professionals should start using AI seriously, strengthen their financial stability, and focus on skills that are harder to automate, like trust, relationships, and hands-on work.

Last week, a colleague and client of mine sent me this article to read by Matt Schumer called Something Big Is Happening.

Matt has spent the last six years building an AI startup and investing in the AI space. In this article, he writes an open letter to his friends, family, and followers about AI and what it could mean for our future.

It’s long, and it is a worthwhile read.

Read it here.

He speaks about no longer being needed for the technical aspects of his work, because AI can do it without him.

This is code for his job is being replaced by AI.

He writes about the evolution of models and how fast things are moving. If you’re sitting on the sidelines or only using a free account, you need to read this and be more aware of what is coming.

We are in the midst of a significant societal change, and while I don’t want to scare folks, I think it is important that people have a certain level of awareness as to what the future holds.

He speaks candidly about the risks and what you should do right now.

Things like:

• Start using AI seriously, not just as a search engine.
• Get your financial house in order. If AI comes for your job, you need to be ready.
• Think about where you stand. Lean into what is the hardest to replace like trust, relationships, and jobs that require a physical presence.
• Rethink what you’re telling your kids. Encourage curiosity, skill-building, and adaptability instead of training for fixed career plans.
• Build the habit of adapting.

A few weeks ago, I listened to an interview where Tony Robbins said, “AI won’t take your job. Someone who knows how to use AI better than you will.”

That distinction matters.

The risk isn’t AI itself. The risk is being outpaced by someone who understands how to use it effectively.

Imagine not knowing how to use the internet in the early 2000s and how limited your professional options would have been. AI represents that level of transformation.

None of us knows exactly what the future holds, but I predict we will see:

1. Job loss. AI allows you to do things 10x faster than before if you know how to use it, and autonomous agents will start to do work for you in the very near future if you’re not already using them.

2. Relationships and in-person experiences will become more important to us than ever.

3. A strong demand for human thought leadership, where we know content is written by a person, not AI.

4. New jobs created as a result of AI, but the only way those opportunities will be there for you is if you start learning now.

Matt starts his article off by using COVID-19 as a parallel for what is happening with AI. At the end of 2019, and early 2020, most of us were oblivious to what was coming.

Don’t be that way with AI.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: It’s not too late for you to learn, and you’re definitely not too old.