Can you "AI proof" your career?

I was recently asked about future-proofing careers in the age of AI.

There aren’t any easy answers here, but one thing I’m sure of: The key isn't to compete with AI – it's to position yourself to thrive alongside it.

The AI ‘Inflection Point’

Recent research from the National University of Singapore, University of Rochester, and Tsinghua University reveals a fascinating pattern. Initially, AI acts as a powerful productivity multiplier – web developers, for instance, saw a 65% increase in earnings by leveraging AI tools.

However, there's an inflection point where AI shifts from enhancing work to replacing it entirely.

Translators, for example, experienced a 30% drop in earnings as AI capabilities advanced.

Most importantly, this shift appears to be one-way – once AI starts replacing workers in a field, that trend doesn't reverse with newer versions.

As Christopher Penn puts it:

What it says is that there are MULTIPLE truths about AI. Yes, it does enhance productivity. Yes, it does take jobs and income away from people. Both are true.

This might sound alarming, but it helps illuminate the path forward. The question isn't whether AI will impact your career – it's how. Our job then, is to position ourselves and our services on the productive, profitable side of that inflection point.

The Power of True Expertise

Here's what many people miss: AI doesn't eliminate the need for expertise – it amplifies the impact of those who truly know their craft. Think about it this way: A junior marketer using ChatGPT might get serviceable, surface-level content.  

But a seasoned marketing professional brings years of industry knowledge, audience understanding, and strategic insight to the table. They're able to craft prompts that reveal nuanced insights, how to critically assess the output, and – most importantly – how to translate those findings into strategic action.

Different Strategies for Different Career Stages

For Young Professionals:

Yes, experiment with AI tools – they're part of your professional toolkit now. But don't fall into the trap of using them as a crutch. There's still no shortcut to becoming an expert. Focus on building deep expertise in your chosen domain. Develop critical thinking skills. Ask – and seek to answer – tough questions.

Put in the work to understand the fundamentals of your field. The combination of strong domain knowledge and AI proficiency will make you invaluable.

For Seasoned Professionals:

‍Your years of experience are more valuable than ever. You can see patterns, understand context, and make connections that others can't. The key is to bring that expertise into your work with AI tools. Think of AI as a way to scale your knowledge and capabilities.

Your domain expertise, real-world experience, and wisdom aren't just relevant – they're essential for guiding AI tools toward meaningful results.

Two Key Steps to AI-Align Your Career

AI will impact industries, companies, roles, and responsibilities unevenly. For example:

• Generative AI is better equipped to take on certain tasks than others.
• AI models are improving, but at rates and in ways that even those building them can’t always predict.
• Capabilities aside, most companies will prioritize their low-risk AI applications before their high-risk ones.  
• Companies and industries differ in their willingness to adopt any new technology (see: technology adoption curve).

Given all these variables, it’s impossible to predict what will happen to your job, or to promise a fool-proof plan that avoids AI’s impact altogether. But there are steps that you can — and should — take to prepare yourself for what’s to come.  

Based on everything I've seen working with businesses that adopt AI, there are two critical steps to position yourself for long-term success:

1. Invest in AI literacy: Develop both foundational knowledge of how AI works and a practical understanding of its applications in your field. This isn't about chasing every new tool – it's about understanding the technology well enough to leverage it effectively.
   
   
2. Develop deep domain expertise with a unique perspective: Build knowledge that goes beyond what AI can provide. Develop a point of view informed by real-world experience and original thinking. This combination of expertise and unique insight is what will set you apart.

The Future Belongs to Those Who Adapt

The reality is, we don't yet know exactly which careers and skills will be most disrupted by AI. What we do know is that the ability to adapt, learn, and combine human expertise with AI capabilities will be crucial.

The goal isn't to become AI-proof in the sense of being untouchable by technology – it's to position yourself as someone who can work alongside AI to create even more value.

Those who thrive won't be those who resist AI or those who rely on it entirely. The winners will be those who understand how to blend human expertise with AI capabilities to achieve outcomes that neither could accomplish alone.

For more of my thoughts on the topic, listen to this excerpt from my conversation with Ron Laneve.

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