I’ve been using generative AI since ChatGPT was first released a few years ago. Every day, I experiment with some form of it – various technologies and applications. And while I’m not on the bleeding edge like, say, Sam Altman, I’m an early adopter, and maybe even a power user, who’s trying to understand this evolving technology and how to apply it responsibly.
No easy task. And no way for any one human being to keep up with the pace of innovation.
But I’ve seen enough now to understand one thing is undeniable: AI is already as smart – or smarter – than many people at doing a growing list of jobs. And it’s not slowing down. It’s learning and improving at a pace that makes the human learning curve look like a gentle hill next to a rocket launch.
That’s a big deal.
A paradigm shift in what ‘good enough’ means
For decades, the benchmark for technology was human performance. Could a system recognize faces as well as a person? Could it write or speak like a human? Could it translate a language without sounding robotic?
Now the script has flipped. We’re not asking if tech can match human ability; we’re asking if humans can match AI. And increasingly, the answer is: not really.
AI can already outperform many people in tasks like writing, coding, designing, forecasting, planning, and analyzing – and it’s just getting started. Who knows where we’ll be 6 months, a year, 5 years down the road as AI continues to learn.
That presents a profound challenge.
Businesses have always been incentivized to do things faster, better and cheaper. Now they have a tool that can deliver all three, at scale, and often without needing as much human help. If that doesn’t feel like a wake-up call, it should.
So, what does that mean for workers?
AI in the workplace: The uneven impact on workers
While I’m not in the prediction business, I think it’s fair to say that some jobs – especially entry-level ones – are at risk. AI is particularly good at the kind of work young professionals typically cut their teeth on. That’s concerning because those jobs are often stepping stones to long-term, advanced careers.
Learn more about AI and Cognitive Debt.
But this doesn’t have to be a doom-and-gloom story. From what I’ve seen, there are just as many AI opportunities as there are threats. Maybe more.
Let me explain.
Opportunity No. 1: AI as an expansion tool
Too often, we talk about AI purely in terms of efficiency. How many hours can it save? How much money can it shave off a budget? That’s not wrong, but it’s also not the whole picture. And not where I think AI is most powerful.
Imagine you’re a company with a wish list of 20 projects. Normally, because of time and budget constraints, you might only pursue 7 or 8. But with AI, you might be able to tackle 15. That’s not just efficiency – it’s expansion.
AI allows teams to dream bigger without adding more headcount or overhead. It doesn’t just cut fat; it opens doors. With the right mindset, AI becomes less of a reducer and more of a multiplier.
Rather than taking a reductive approach to AI (how much fat can we cut from doing the things we’re currently doing with fewer people), you can take an expansive approach (how much more might we accomplish with the people, budget and time we have).
Opportunity No. 2: AI as a personal trainer
If you’re an early-career professional worried about losing development opportunities to AI, consider this: AI can also be your teacher.
When I was a young journalist, I learned more from my editors than I ever did in school. They tore apart my stories, told me what was missing, and pushed me to rewrite again and again until I got it right.
Can AI replace a brilliant human editor? Not quite. But can it simulate the experience? In many ways, yes. Especially in instances where a real mentor might not be within your reach.
You can ask AI to critique your work, point out flaws, offer better phrasing, give you additional questions to consider, compare your output to the best in the business, or simulate how someone more senior might approach your challenge. That feedback loop – ask, try, revise, repeat – is how real learning happens.AI mentorship won’t replace human mentorship, but it can fill gaps. And in some cases, it can even broaden your exposure to ideas and insights far beyond what any one person could provide.
Opportunity No. 3: The anti-tech technology
Ironically, AI might be the most user-friendly technology ever created. You don’t always need to learn Photoshop to create images, HTML to build a website, or R to analyze data. AI tools can do the heavy lifting, as long as you can clearly describe what you want.
Without having to learn a new interface.
AI doesn’t demand that you speak its language. It’s been trained to understand yours. That means people who can articulate ideas, ask good questions, reason through problems, and provide context will have a significant advantage.
In a strange way, AI is demystifying tech. It’s flattening the learning curve. The barrier to entry is no longer knowing the tools – it’s knowing what to do with them.
I believe this will spark a creative renaissance. People with ideas – especially those who might’ve previously lacked the technical chops to bring them to life – now have a powerful new partner. AI democratizes creativity. That’s the upside. That’s the promise.
So, will AI eat us for lunch?
Maybe. It’s certainly capable of doing some of our work faster, better and cheaper. And there are people out there who are a lot smarter than me who are predicting plenty of collateral damage.
But AI can also help us do more, learn faster and think bigger.
The real question isn’t whether AI will change everything. It’s already doing that. The question is: How will we respond?
If you’re wondering how AI could help you or your business stay relevant, explore new ideas, or get more done, let’s talk.
Originally written by Todd Morgano
