Surviving AI: What to Do Before You’re Replaced

If AI can do your job, eventually it will.

That’s not fear-mongering. It’s reality.

AI is advancing fast. What once took five years to evolve now happens in five weeks. If you think your job is safe just because you’re a warm body in a seat, you’re mistaken.

This is a wake-up call.

If you’re doing repeatable, predictable work, AI will catch up. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but probably sooner than you might think. The only way to stay relevant is to evolve with the tools that are replacing yesterday’s skillsets.

Here’s what I recommend:

First, specialize.

Broad generalists are the easiest to automate. If you focus on something nuanced, such as content strategy rather than just writing, or client leadership rather than just reporting metrics, you're more valuable. And if you're more valuable then you buy yourself some valuable time.

Second, add human value.

Show initiative. Be creative. Think beyond your job description. Speak up. Lead. AI can’t replace a bold idea or human connection. Not yet. But it can replace someone who’s just clocking in and playing it safe.

In every agency I own, we value those who bring ideas, have pride in the outcomes of their projects, and lead through change. That’s what makes someone irreplaceable.

Don’t hope the future won’t come for your job. Get ahead of it. Use the tools. Learn the trends.

And above all, evolve with the times.

~ Erik