Humans are Underrated: Why AI Won’t Steal Our Jobs
Bryk's Bits #9
Top Bit:
Over the past few weeks, I've shown several non-tech folks results from deep research prompts tailored specifically to areas they're familiar with or curious about. Their reactions have mostly been the same: amazed but also cautious. A typical response has been, "Holy shit, this is wild!" quickly followed by a nervous, "Our kids are in trouble. There won’t be jobs for them.”
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about these reactions as I fully agree with the excitement and feel the complete opposite regarding the skepticism that they’ve expressed. I understand their fear and am reminded that it’s very similar to what’s occurred in every large technological shift in the past century, which makes me even more optimistic about our future.
I can’t recall which nerdy history book I read it in but it documented the mass panic for white-collar workers in the early days of computerization. People predicted that white-collar work would be similar to horses retiring when cars were invented. Secretaries thought their jobs would become obsolete with the rise of computers. This was partially true, as many did lose jobs in the short term but these people adapted and evolved in their roles. Instead of becoming irrelevant, they became assistants that could manage spreadsheets, and learned how to leverage computers to broaden their responsibilities.
Another great example I recall listening to a podcast about (may have been Ben Thompson’s “Stratechery”) is the panic among bank tellers when ATMs emerged. People feared ATMs would make tellers obsolete as there was no need for human interaction. Personally, my social anxiety loves the fact I can go to an ATM and take out cash without talking to anyone. Instead of eliminating these jobs, banks recognized the opportunity to open up more in person branches, growing their reach and brand by leveraging ATMs and upskilling tellers. Teller jobs actually increased, and their role developed into more than just dispensing cash, shifting toward improving customers' experiences and sales. Rather than eliminating jobs, technology reshaped the responsibilities of the job and created net new jobs.
Both of these follow a similar pattern that AI and LLMs appear to emulate. A new technology disrupts current workflows and creates some negative short term impact to a subset of the workforce but ultimately creates more opportunities for those same people and others in the long term. Automation does not replace human creativity but rather enhances it.
People’s worry about how AI will impact their jobs and their kids in the future is understandable, but I prefer to be on the side of optimism. Just as with ATMs and the rise of computers, I believe AI will shift and create new jobs, not eliminate them.
I think all of these historical examples validate a belief of mine that humans are underrated. Fear is normal but we tend to forget that humans, individually and collectively, are resilient and adaptive, and have been for thousands of years. Our kids won’t stop having jobs but instead will learn new skills and naturally integrate AI into their roles.
AI Native companies will disrupt incumbents that don’t invest in their employees upskilling to leverage AI capabilities. Future roles our kids will have will merge AI’s capabilities with human strengths that AI cannot replicate.
There are massive opportunities to create upskilling courses and training modules that are specific to niche audiences. These are likely not going to be at a massive scale, but can easily create six-figure outcomes. For example, I can think of 10+ areas where private mental health practice can benefit from AI tools that 90+% are not leveraging. A course that can guide a practice owner through leveraging AI across aspects like intake forms, FAQs, automating session notes, billing, marketing, and more, freeing psychologists to focus on what they do best, working with their clients. Imagine a clinician building personalized apps to help their clients engage more effectively with their treatment between sessions.
As I have more of these conversations with people in my life that don’t live and breathe technology like myself, I believe these tools mirror other major tech advances, bringing disruption but ultimately leading to new opportunities, higher productivity, and a richer working life. It may be challenging initially but in the long run, I believe it will be beneficial for society.
Top 5 Non-Sports Documentaries
Top Content:
Europe Against the Jews, 1880-1945
A very intense and powerful book, documenting how the Holocaust was not just perpetrated by the Germans but had widespread and eager participation across Europe, beginning in the late 19th century, leading to Hitler’s rise to power. Even after taking multiple jewish and European history courses, this was eye-opening in the way the author explains the rise of nationalism, ethnic purity, and envy across the entire European context as several leading causes that led to the Holocaust.
Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics
I decided to pick up a lighter book after the above, exploring the evolution of soccer tactics. It’s a perfect combination of history, which I love, with the behind the scenes details of today’s strategies.
Strength, Coaching, and Nutrition: Triathlon’s Version of the Tech Arms Race
Triathletes have always been at the forefront of tech innovation and it’s cool to see how top athletes are beginning to leverage AI to customize training plans, tweak nutrition and improve their daily routines.
A very moving piece exploring the personal stories and memories of a person’s golf bag after their passing. What do the items an individual leaves, like broken tees, tell us about them. This hit me hard.
Deadliest phase of fentanyl crisis eases, as all states see recovery
Thankfully, with increased availability of treatment and a shift in the tainted drug supply coming into the US, we are seeing a decrease in drug deaths. This is extremely positive and shows the importance of focusing on strategies to continue this downward trend.
I’ve been fascinated by the work Dan Shipper and his team at Every have been delivering. It truly feels like they are a player in their own space, combining a media company with software product incubations around AI. I’ll be interested to see how they evolve as their own creators succeed and how they balance the media content side with their tech experiments.
PS: Bonus shoutout to Dan Shipper for being another die-hard Jets fan
Andrew “The Kids Will Be Alright” Bryk