Will AI Take Your Job? Only If You Sit Still
It's no longer news that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we work.
That means it's time to sit down and think about how the rules have changed, because they have changed.
As Nature and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have reported, the transformation is massive: millions of jobs will be destroyed even as millions more are created.
So it's not that we're going to run out of jobs to do, it's that we're going to be doing different jobs. Jobs that require different skills.
Welcome to Part 1 of our multi-part series on AI, careers, and the skills that will keep you relevant.
Will AI take my job?
AI is automating everything from admin to analysis, so it's a fair question.
AI, however, is really good at some things and not so good at others. In particular, AI is really good at work that has defined rules and is repeatable. Even if that work is complicated, that's not a hurdle to AI. As long as there are rules, AI systems will learn to follow them.
So the people whose jobs are most at risk are the specialists; people whose work fits neatly into rules and repeatable tasks.
At the same time, AI is opening new doors. Automation frees us humans from routine, which then creates opportunities for us to apply insight, creativity, and critical judgment. Employers are already recognising that shift, and those skills are in hot demand. According to WEF, 39% of core job skills are expected to change by 2030. If you're still in doubt, this is your sign that lifelong learning and flexibility will be key to you holding onto your job (or finding your new one).
As we here at FoldEd see it, the future belongs to generalists. That is, to the people who connect diverse ideas, think critically and creatively, and never stop learning.
New jobs need old skills
The World Economic Forum predicts that — because of AI, the green transition, and demographic shifts — roughly 170 million new jobs will be created this decade, while 92 million will be displaced.
To put that in real terms:
- Many roles could see over half of their functions eliminated, according to Bloomberg data cited by WEF. As one expert notes, “AI could replace more than 50% of the tasks performed by market research analysts (53%) and sales representatives (67%)”.
- A 2025 Tech Monitor survey found that 46% of workers believe their skills will become obsolete within five years.
You need human skills that AI can't replicate.
WEF’s Future of Jobs 2025 finds that creative thinking, analytical thinking, leadership, and other cognitive and interpersonal skills are among the top in-demand abilities that employers are looking for. In fact, many companies are already investing heavily in reskilling: half of today’s employees have undertaken training as part of long-term learning plans, up from 41% just a year ago.
This is actually really great news. If nothing else, humans are great at being creative and relational. We've been doing that since the dawn of time. We can let machines do the rest.
So what should you do?
Your best move is to upskill. Not once. Continuously. The people who thrive in this new world are the ones who keep stretching.
Here’s how to start:
- Cultivate creativity and critical thinking. Take on problems that don’t have one right answer. Reflect. Analyse. Build the kind of cognitive range that machines can’t fake. These are the most automation-resistant skills.
- Stay curious. Play with new tools. Follow trends outside your comfort zone. Be the first to try something new and the first to let go of what’s no longer useful.
- Build a cross-industry network. Talk to people from fields you know nothing about. Join meetups. Ask weird questions. Most innovation doesn’t come from digging deeper into your trench. It comes from crossing into someone else’s.
The future isn’t about mastering one thing. It’s about learning how to keep learning.
If you found this post valuable, then check out our guide, Freelancing in an AI World. It’s a practical resource for freelancers figuring out work in the age of AI.
References
Bandhakavi, S. (2024, October 3). Deep-seated fears revealed among office workers on AI skills gap. Tech Monitor. https://www.techmonitor.ai/ai-and-automation/ai-impact-sparks-concerns-over-skill-relevance-46-of-workers-expect-obsolescence
Dumitru, D., & Halpern, D. F. (2023). Critical Thinking: Creating Job-Proof Skills for the Future of Work. Journal of Intelligence, 11(10), 194. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11100194
Liu, J., Chen, K., & Lyu, W. (2024). Embracing artificial intelligence in the labour market: the case of statistics. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03557-6
World Economic Forum. (2025, April 30). How AI is reshaping the career ladder, and other trends in jobs and skills on Labour Day. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/ai-jobs-international-workers-day/
World Economic Forum. (2025, January 8). Future of Jobs Report 2025: The jobs of the future — and the skills you need to get them. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/future-of-jobs-report-2025-jobs-of-the-future-and-the-skills-you-need-to-get-them/
World Economic Forum. (2025, January 7). The Future of Jobs Report 2025: 3. Skills outlook. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/in-full/3-skills-outlook/