AI, Donald Trump, & Work

Shifting forms

Without careful planning, the entire capitalist system our country is built on collapses in the next decade.

Scene. For hundreds of years, human beings have derived value, worth, and meaning from “work.” This continues to be the case today.

Enter AI, stage left. A byproduct of humans, now capable of replacing most work. Progressively entering the workforce. Employers—from law firms to tech companies—are eager to use it. And it’s making leaps in months, not years or decades. Layoffs have started across tech. More are coming.

Enter Donald Trump, 12:00. Hired a tech billionaire that owns an AI company to advise on government efficiency. Cut off funding to key government departments, including the NIH and foreign AID. Currently encouraging federal workers to leave their positions.

There is no question that AI and Donald Trump intersect. But where does that leave everyone else—the people already, and soon to be, replaced by public and private organizations?

There is an argument that AI will make humans more productive than they’ve ever been. But in reality AI will become more productive than it’s ever been—not the best lawyers, doctors, federal workers, or software engineers. They will all be replaced. And as AI gets better, even entrepreneurs will deal with smaller margins than ever.

BUT a new paradigm will emerge. Once people realize that we are all connected.

Connection is the only thing that has ever created lasting value, worth, or meaning, after all. Everything else is just changing forms. The 10,000 forms.