How will AI impact the future of work?

AI’s impact on the future of work is already unfolding and will likely accelerate in the coming years. It’s a double-edged sword—disrupting some roles while creating others, reshaping how we think about productivity, skills, and even meaning in work. Here’s a breakdown based on what’s observable and reasonably predictable:

1. Automation of Routine Tasks: AI is eating up repetitive, predictable jobs. Think data entry, basic customer service (chatbots are already everywhere), and even some manufacturing roles. Studies like those from McKinsey suggest 20-30% of tasks in most occupations could be automated by 2030. That’s not full jobs disappearing, but chunks of them. Workers will either adapt or get sidelined.
   
2. Augmentation Over Replacement: For many, AI won’t kill the job—it’ll change it. Doctors, for instance, are using AI to analyze scans faster, but they’re still the ones making the call. Coders lean on tools like GitHub Copilot to crank out code quicker, yet the creative problem-solving stays human. The winners here will be people who can wield AI as a force multiplier.
   
3. New Job Creation: Every tech wave births roles we didn’t see coming—think “prompt engineer” or “AI ethics consultant.” Historically, the internet killed some jobs (travel agents) but spawned others (web developers). AI’s already driving demand for data scientists, machine learning engineers, and even folks to manage the human-AI interface. The catch? These gigs often need specialized skills.
   
4. Skills Shift: The future screams for adaptability. Hard skills like coding or data analysis will matter, but so will soft stuff—creativity, emotional intelligence, critical thinking—things AI still sucks at. Lifelong learning will be non-negotiable; the World Economic Forum reckons 50% of workers will need reskilling by 2025. Education systems and companies that don’t pivot will leave people behind.
   
5. Inequality Risk: The gap between tech-savvy and tech-illiterate could widen. High-skill workers in AI-friendly fields (tech, finance) might see wages soar, while low-skill workers in automatable roles (retail, trucking) could stagnate or drop. Oxford Economics pegs millions of jobs at risk in advanced economies alone, and the transition won’t be smooth—governments might need to step in with retraining or safety nets.
   
6. Workplace Dynamics: Remote work’s rise, juiced by AI tools like Zoom transcription or project management bots, could stick. But there’s a flip side: AI surveillance (tracking keystrokes, predicting burnout) might make work feel more Orwellian. Trust between employers and workers could get dicey.
   
7. Existential Angle: Long-term, if AI keeps scaling—say, toward AGI (artificial general intelligence)—we might hit a point where it’s not just tasks but entire professions that vanish. Philosophers and economists like Nick Bostrom argue we’d then need to rethink work’s purpose. Universal basic income pops up here as a potential buffer, though that’s a political minefield.

Real-world example: Look at warehousing. Amazon’s robots handle picking and packing, but humans still oversee the system and handle edge cases. Output’s up, but the workforce is leaner and more skilled. That’s the template—efficiency spikes, headcount shifts.

For a great analysis on this please consider the following article featuring Drainpipe CEO Dominick Romano and written by Robbie Westacott https://www.thisiscapitalism.org/blog/ai-the-future-is-already-here