The question isn’t whether AI will change the workforce. The question is: Will you be ready? Technology has always transformed work and society. Artificial intelligence is just accelerating the pace. Imagine being a farm or factory worker in the 1850, watching new machines emerge that threatened to take your job. The fear was intense, as was the societal backlash. People rioted against automation, desperate to halt progress. But history marched forward. Machines did replace much of the grinding labor in factories and farms, yet humanity didn’t crumble, it advanced. As society adapted over the following decades, life expectancy increased, work became safer, people worked fewer hours, and the global standard of living skyrocketed.
We’ve seen this cycle before. AI is just the next wave. Instead of destroying jobs, it is redefining what valuable work looks like. The workforce has adapted before, and it will adapt again. The winners will be those who embrace this shift fastest.
AI is following a familiar playbook
As an economic anthropologist who has studied socioeconomic transitions, I see troubling historical patterns reemerging. In the 1990s, Russia experienced a dramatic shift from communism to capitalism. Because society resisted the change, millions of people who had relied on government jobs and the security of the socialist system were suddenly lost in a rapidly changing economy. Life expectancy plummeted, many turned to drugs, protested, or checked out of the workforce. Nostalgia for the past grew, and by the end of the decade, Russia elected an authoritarian leader who promised to reverse capitalist policies and systems. Now, Russia is facing the consequence of this resistance to progress, and it will take several generations to undo the harm of this social backlash to change.
The industrial revolution of the 1800s followed a similar trajectory. Economic upheaval and displacement led to social unrest, and many countries responded with fascist and communist authoritarian regimes. It took two world wars and a massive economic reset to move forward. But then, after we embraced change, we became much better off.
The lesson? If we don’t adapt fast enough to today’s AI-driven economy, we risk repeating the mistakes of history. This time, however, we have the opportunity to avoid suffering by proactively embracing change.
With AI, adaptation must happen faster
To prevent the kind of societal upheaval we’ve seen in previous economic transitions, individuals must step out of their comfort zones and adapt to AI faster than they think possible. What does this adaptation look like on a personal level?
1. Learn AI
If you’re not actively using AI tools today, you’re already behind. Start by paying for access to leading AI platforms like ChatGPT. Immerse yourself in AI-focused content from thought leaders like David Shapiro, Matthew Berman, Julia McCoy, Wes Roth, Mo Gawdat, Dwarkesh Patel, and Peter Diamandis. The more you engage, the better you’ll understand how AI is reshaping work and business.
2. Develop your intuition
AI is phenomenal at analyzing data and generating insights—but it lacks the ability to sense cultural shifts, anticipate human behavior, or see the broader picture beyond raw information. This is where human intuition becomes critical. Businesses will shift away from valuing purely “data-driven” employees to prioritizing those who can blend data with deep perception and foresight.
3. Become a performer
Jobs that thrive on human energy, emotion, and real-time interaction—like sales, live performances, public speaking, and advocacy—will continue to be in high demand. AI may write songs, but it can’t replicate the electricity of a live concert. AI may analyze legal arguments, but it can’t match the courtroom presence of a skilled litigator. The future workforce will favor those who bring irreplaceable human presence to their roles.
How to work with AI
The workforce isn’t facing extinction—it’s evolving. The key is not resisting AI but integrating it into your workflow. Those who use AI as an amplifier will outpace those who fear it.
Consider AI-human collaboration in action: AI-powered platforms, such as AI agent management systems, enable businesses to optimize workflows while keeping humans at the helm of strategic decision-making. For example, platforms like Wayfound help businesses deploy AI agents to streamline tasks while allowing human workers to focus on creativity, strategy, and high-value interactions. This is the model for the future—humans and AI working in tandem.
Future-proofing your career in an AI world
AI isn’t a job destroyer—it’s a catalyst for rethinking work. The best way to protect your job from AI is to lean into our full humanity, the things we set aside when we started staring at screens instead of focusing on each other. Double down on skills that AI can’t easily replicate—intuition, sensory intelligence, and the ability to create energy in live interactions.
The future belongs to those who embrace AI, not those who resist it. The faster we get out of our comfort zones and adapt, the sooner we all win.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
Read more:
- Rigid work models won’t survive AI. Here’s what will
- Are we getting dumber? How AI affects critical thinking
- AI will reshape industries by changing not just the ‘how’ of work, but also the ‘who’
- AI could kill creative jobs that ‘shouldn’t have been there in the first place,’ OpenAI’s CTO says
