How to get replaced by AI

Here Are 3 Steps to Make Sure You Get Replaced by AI

1. Stop learning. What’s the point if AI can do it anyway, right?
2. Believe everything the AI gives you. Why would you question the code it generates?
3. Be average, do the bare minimum and don’t pursue excellence. AI will eventually replace you anyway, so why bother putting in the extra effort?

After using AI daily for over two years, trying out different tools, researching models, and much more, I don’t think AI will replace humans anytime soon. However, I believe that if you’re doing one or more of the things mentioned above, it’s only a matter of time.

It’s not just me saying this. People much smarter than me have been saying it for years. Economist Tyler Cowen published the book Average Is Over in 2013, where he argues that as machines get smarter and can replace the average worker, there will only be two types of people: those who are highly skilled and those who aren’t. Similarly, Brynjolfsson and McAfee echoed these sentiments in their book Race Against the Machine. Furthermore, a research study released by MIT earlier this year in June, called Your Brain on ChatGPT, shows the effects of using AI assistants on the brain (link).

So, what’s the solution?

Brynjolfsson and McAfee argue that there will be three types of winners:

1. The Highly Skilled Workers

• People who can optimize and gain incredible results from these machines.
• Examples include:
• • Machine learning researchers who understand AI better than anyone
  • AI engineers who can take these models and turn them into products
  • Data scientists who can understand and use the massive amounts of data produced by these machines

2. The Superstars

• People who are in the top 1% of their field, such as designers, marketers, writers, and so on.

3. The Owners

• People who have the capital to invest in technologies, such as venture capitalists.

Most people can’t easily become part of the third group, so the question is: How does one become part of the first two?
Here are some general principles:

1. Consistently Learn and Upskill
Most people stop learning after high school or university. However, in today’s fast-paced economy, if you’re not upskilling and learning more about your craft every day, you’re falling behind.

2. Apply What You Learn and Produce Quality Work
Many people take courses but never benefit because they don’t put the theory into practice. After learning something new, apply it as soon as possible.

3. Become Visible
Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares argue in their book Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth that most startups spend too much time on product and not enough on marketing. They propose a 50/50 split. You can apply this to your career by showcasing your work to your boss, talking to people about what you do, or posting on social media.

4. Operate in Fast Feedback Loops
A feedback loop consists of inputs, processes, and outputs. The outputs are then analyzed and fed back into the system as inputs. Use this framework to evaluate the effectiveness of your learning on a day-to-day basis.

5. Surround Yourself With People Who Are Already Excelling
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” is a common phrase, and it’s true. If you can’t find people excelling in your city, use the internet. The top 1% often write books, host podcasts, or teach courses. Even if you can’t meet them physically, you can still study their work, analyze what they do differently, and learn how to think like them.

6. Learn How to Use AI Correctly
AI is a powerful tool that can help you do things you previously couldn’t, but it’s a double-edged sword. Use tools like ChatGPT as assistants to enhance your work, not to replace your thinking entirely.