On Being Redundant

For humans who overly identify with their work, the road ahead is tough.

What must it feel like, to watch a YouTube video that shows that AI can now do what you do for a living better, faster, and cheaper? Millions of tutors may have had that experience watching this video from OpenAI.

Today, I imagined for the first time what it would feel like to see AI working with an entrepreneur through their product vision, challenging assumptions diplomatically when appropriate, adapting and drawing wireframes, and creating a roadmap. I imagined it, and let myself experience the feelings that came up.

It was a sinking feeling. A groundless feeling. Like getting fired from a job - which luckily I’ve only experienced once.

And many of us know now that this moment is coming for us, sooner or later. I would argue that in principle - no occupation is safe.

In dealing with this groundlessness I turned to my Buddhist training, which taught me to let go of the narrow identity of “product designer”. What arose in its place, as often does, is this deeper, more expansive identity. That of a participant in a dynamic, interdependent, and evolving reality. The reality which I’ve begun to call The Great Dance.

I will write about change, technology, the future — and finding meaning within this vortex of a world.

Let’s dance.