How do you want to find job when AI is replacing people? [Real case on the horizon]
3 weeks ago, we discussed the topic of how AI affects your work.
After seeing yesterday’s Instagram post by Morning Brew, I’ve decided to change the questions.
According to the post, even a major player like Duolingo is looking to replace contractors and employees with AI.
"The company also said it will only allow new hires if a team can prove that a role can’t be automated. AI use will also be evaluated in the hiring process and in current employees’ performance reviews."
Uber and Spotify took similar steps in the past, and I think more companies will follow this trend set by the giants.
That's why I am asking:
What can you offer this world that you will be paid for? (Skill)
Will you change your online career to offline? What will it be?
Last but not least: Does it make sense to start a business when, with AI, your product can be replicated and you may end up with a copycat solution, or a big giant will surpass you with its resources?
Replies
Very interesting topic Nika...
Not just because of AI but, after last Monday (a full day without electricity in Portugal and Spain), some people (me include ofc) may consider having a life that is less dependent on technology in general and AI in particular.
Living off grid was always part of my long term plan but now, it will definitely move upward on the priority list to asap! ;)
Happy International Worker's Day!
minimalist phone: creating folders
@terabitcoins Happy Labour Day as well! :)
Regarding that, electricity – is there any known cause?
Regarding offline skill: what do you consider?
@busmark_w_nika Thanks :)
There's no plausible explanation so far...
Online and mostly offline: I don't "build in public"!! :D
minimalist phone: creating folders
@terabitcoins But building offline can be fun (and also needful). Let's consider how many properties are needed. There could be big money.
@busmark_w_nika Fun and healthier!
About the properties that are needed: There are more than enough to everyone, many abandoned places that needs to be recovered (unfortunately, almost everyone wants to be in the same spots, next to the shore, with the best view, and that's not sustainable).
This has been sitting heavy with me too.
I’m someone re-entering work after a gap, and watching headlines like these... it’s hard not to feel like I showed up late to a party where the rules have already changed.
I don’t have a flashy answer to what I can offer that AI can’t replicate. But I do know I care deeply about doing work that feels thoughtful, human, and useful — even if that means leaning into slower, more intentional paths.
The idea of switching to something offline? Honestly, yes. Some days it feels like the only way to hold onto a sense of control or peace. I’ve even caught myself daydreaming about a life with less tech, more soil.
As for starting something new… maybe the risk of being copied will always exist. But I think what makes something meaningful is the why behind it — the care, the context, the person who builds it. That’s not so easy to clone.
Still figuring it all out. But I’m glad we’re asking these questions out loud.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ambika_vaish Do you have in mind any physical skill you could financially benefit from?
@busmark_w_nika
I don’t have a clearly defined physical skill yet, but I keep circling back to things like gardening, growing herbs, or even making natural products. Something tactile, slow, and rooted.
It’s not about becoming a millionaire off it — more like, could this support a modest life, bring peace, and still feel meaningful?
Maybe the skill comes with the lifestyle shift. Still exploring.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@ambika_vaish Sounds familiar to me – my grandparents did gardening. The thing is, there is a "hard technique" to do these things, so if you want to take it more "agricultural", it would require quite a big investment. On the other hand, the agricultural sector is mostly financed by state subsidies.
Nonilion
This is something, I am trying to fix. I am trying to understand what shift is coming? Because replacing job is easy said then done. A company can be made up of Humans or Machines. I think we must start training for the new world. That is why Misty (my company), is working on Essentials for the future worker. A repository for humans to get all the skills they need to become an Operator controlling AI or Robotics.
Future is uncertain, but we can be certain about ourself.
I hope this letter is also read in the future, and we all can look back and say how Humans were trying to understand AI, and hopefully we all Humans become 1 collective family.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@themisty IMO, people with a lack of ambition will be replaced first. Because those "don't have a need to progress, learn or improve", so they will first be losing their jobs.
Nonilion
@busmark_w_nika But still I feel, we as humans should work together, and help even those who lack the ambition. Jobs are even scarce at the moment, lots of new graduates struggling to get a job, they dont lack ambition.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@themisty It depends on individuals. I was a part of a group of people (150) who studied marketing. Almost half dropped out of the university, some decided not to follow the marketing journey professionally, and I do not know how many stayed in the business. On the contrary, I know people who haven't studied marketing at all and are quite successful. So I am circling back to my statement: It is about individuals.
Nonilion
@busmark_w_nika Ok
Those of us who are building AI products know how limiting they are. Just take ads for an example. You'd think google ads would generate an appropriate copy or list of keywords. It fails miserably. The experts tell you to start with exact or phrase matches. Google ads give you broad terms (this will spend your money and get bad results).
Perplexity doesn't do good enough research, you still need a human.
My own field of programming, it's horrendous at the job. AI augments our abilities. The most these companies can do is reduce hiring and make one person do more. Complete replacement is baffling and irresponsible.
minimalist phone: creating folders
@mubashirullahd "Complete replacement is baffling and irresponsible." – I agree that in this stage, yes, but what about in 2 years? Let's take how AI has evolved in the last 1.5 year (in terms of text, code, video and image creations) + AI agents start to be very good at planning the processes. Aren't we close to the complexity that could possibly replace several workers? It is matter of time I think.
@busmark_w_nika in my coding space, it should be theoretically possible for an Ai to take all the steps I do. But even then It still would be better economics to offshore the hire than hire an agent SWE.
Human with agent > only agent.
Augmenting is where the current tech is. I find it hard to think it'll be better. People will still be needed to make decisions and connect things in novel ways. Sure basic jobs will be gone.