Honestly, I think we need to move beyond the debate about where jobs will or won’t be (which is largely speculative) and start focusing on how we can use these systems to enable better talent distribution. It’s something I’ve been deeply obsessed with lately and wondering what you think.
Agree with you. The question of where jobs go is important, but I agree it’s been overplayed.
What I’m trying to get at with Zombie Work isn’t really about job loss. It’s about the very slow erosion of ownership that has been happening and that will accelerate. People don’t even realise what’s happening. The tools do our jobs, we stay in place, and suddenly we’re only approving, not creating.
The talent distribution point is powerful. AI could unlock a lot of potential but only if we’re intentional about what we’re distributing, not just where. I'm worried about entry level jobs not existing at all in the knowledge industries.
Would love to hear more about how you're thinking about this.
It's a fair point. I might add a layer: I’m not sure we were fulfilled before, either. We already had millions of people stuck in performative roles, trapped in systems that optimized for output over meaning since post-industrial revolution. AI isn’t breaking something sacred ... it’s exposing an already broken foundation.
That’s why I think the talent distribution question matters so much. The system was already bad at seeing people for what they’re capable of. Now it risks flattening them entirely. I've given more thought in this piece: https://substack.com/home/post/p-165050099 tell me what you think. Would love to collaborate and watch your work closely.
Honestly, I think we need to move beyond the debate about where jobs will or won’t be (which is largely speculative) and start focusing on how we can use these systems to enable better talent distribution. It’s something I’ve been deeply obsessed with lately and wondering what you think.
Agree with you. The question of where jobs go is important, but I agree it’s been overplayed.
What I’m trying to get at with Zombie Work isn’t really about job loss. It’s about the very slow erosion of ownership that has been happening and that will accelerate. People don’t even realise what’s happening. The tools do our jobs, we stay in place, and suddenly we’re only approving, not creating.
The talent distribution point is powerful. AI could unlock a lot of potential but only if we’re intentional about what we’re distributing, not just where. I'm worried about entry level jobs not existing at all in the knowledge industries.
Would love to hear more about how you're thinking about this.
It's a fair point. I might add a layer: I’m not sure we were fulfilled before, either. We already had millions of people stuck in performative roles, trapped in systems that optimized for output over meaning since post-industrial revolution. AI isn’t breaking something sacred ... it’s exposing an already broken foundation.
That’s why I think the talent distribution question matters so much. The system was already bad at seeing people for what they’re capable of. Now it risks flattening them entirely. I've given more thought in this piece: https://substack.com/home/post/p-165050099 tell me what you think. Would love to collaborate and watch your work closely.