AI Is Going To Kill You | Deep Think #001

The Everything Issue: AI Is Every Issue, AI Is The Only Issue

The rate of change in 2023 has increased at a pace never before seen by humanity. Artificial Intelligence is proving itself to be an expanding mass pulling absolutely everything into its orbit. Paradoxically, the faster things accelerate the more interconnected everything is becoming. All of our lives, careers, feelings, dreams, anxieties, etc are being linked together in ways that are going to be seamless and integrated vs the internet's website structure that has left us divided and delusional.

There is not a single person on the planet whose life will not be holistically impacted by Artificial Intelligence which is why AI is not only a huge issue, it is the everything issue and, therefore, the only issue.

The rate of acceleration is the main topic for this essay, as it will dictate who prospers and who gets left behind. Paying attention to what's going on isn't enough. All of us must be interacting with AI to begin understanding how it is impacting and will impact our individual lives (positively and negatively). This is nothing like the incremental 30-year run the internet has had where, even after a 1/3 century, much of the population really has no idea how it works. With all of the advances of the last three decades, most people are still using their computers as glorified typewrites that let them look at pictures and videos. Tech has always been someone else's problem and a standalone department that helps the laypeople do the digital basics of traditional jobs.

For the first time, traditional jobs are being streamlined with advanced tech. While some jobs may be disrupted later than others, more than 50% will be seriously disrupted within the next 5 years. Disruption is mostly referring to dramatic downsizing as AI tools streamline work and allow a smaller number of staff to manage output vs generating it. If you are a specialist this should be of particular concern as AI represents the official end of the specialist era and the dawn of the generalist era. (Note: refer to the example below of how a traditional copywriting department of 50 people may be disrupted). The good news is, the same thing that makes AI tech disruptive is the same thing that makes it accessible. It is extremely intuitive and getting more-so by the day. Non-technical people do not suddenly have to be trained in the equivalent of writing code, but they will need to become fluent in the prompts, gestures and workflows that are defining AI.

The exponential acceleration of AI is why it is so critical for everyone to be interacting with it today. Playing catchup is not an option. As is common in all tech/societal shifts, access and education are the biggest barriers to entry and the biggest contributors to inequity in the distribution of the benefits. This wave of change will only be farther reaching and even more disenfranchising. People are going to feel like they just woke up one day and their whole life changed. Factions will arise and divisions will run deep.

The ability for government to address/regulate AI in any meaningful way is zero. These tools haven't even been available for a year and they're already years ahead of where they were 8 months ago. Elected officials are still confused about the internet let alone possessing the capacity to mindfully navigate AI; and, ironically, the people they are engaging for guidance are also the ones that own the leading AI tech. What elected officials will quickly find are entire industries knocking at their door looking for help.

Because AI is the everything issue, impacting every industry, it also represents an unprecedented wealth of opportunity. It reduces the barriers to entry that have prevented individuals from executing on great ideas. Once a person dives in, their view of what's possible will be blown wide open.

It's not clear whether or not "AI Is Going To Kill You", but there will be a crystal clear line between dancing with AI and fighting with AI. The latter is a losing battle that will be fueled by anger and discomfort. The former represents an opportunity for any person to be the master of their respective universe and achieve productivity that creates an entirely new level of fulfillment.

AI Is Going To Kill You: Industry Disruption

Here is a possible breakdown of how a copywriting department of 50 people might be downsized and restructured to 20 people as AI takes over much of the work:

1. AI Content Generators (15 roles eliminated): Advanced AI content generators can now produce large volumes of content quickly and accurately. This means that entry-level copywriting roles, which often involve generating large amounts of simple content, might be the first to go. In our hypothetical department, this might result in a downsizing of approximately 15 roles.

2. AI Proofreaders and Editors (10 roles eliminated): AI can also perform proofreading and basic editing tasks. It can correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, and even improve sentence structure and word choice. This could eliminate another 10 roles in our department.

3. AI Data Analysts (5 roles eliminated): AI can analyze the performance of written content, determining which pieces are most effective and why. This could eliminate the need for several data analysis roles within the department.

4. AI Strategists (5 roles restructured): While AI can assist with developing content strategy by analyzing trends and predicting what content will perform well, this area still requires a human touch. Instead of eliminating these roles, they would be restructured. The AI strategists would supervise and guide the AI systems, ensuring that they align with the company's overall marketing strategy.

5. Creative Copywriters (5 roles restructured): Creative copywriting, especially for high-level campaigns, still benefits from a human touch. These roles would likely evolve rather than disappear. Creative copywriters could work alongside AI, using it as a tool to generate ideas and draft content, which they would then refine and perfect.

6. Copywriting Managers (10 roles retained): Management roles would remain crucial in overseeing the department's operations, ensuring the quality of the AI-generated content, and making strategic decisions. These roles could also evolve to include more focus on training and guiding team members in using AI tools effectively.