Independent or Redundant? Reflections on Work in the Generative AI Era

I’ve been reflecting lately on what my work might look like in the not-too-distant future, given the advent of Generative AI.

Every day, we hear conflicting statements from the very inventors or champions of AI: some say our obsolescence is imminent, while others argue it’s just an illusion.

Some treat AI as “just another technology,” insisting that we’ll simply upskill and new jobs will emerge. Others warn that AI’s unprecedented “intelligence” will render many roles redundant, upending entire industries and affecting millions of people.

We’ll see how this all plays out. Even with the AI tools we have today, it’s clear there’s nothing quite like what we’ve known before—and we know it certainly heralds a new beginning for … well, again, we’ll see.

In this muddy picture, it seems more important than ever to consider how we might chart a course toward financial independence—or at least find an alternative route before the tide shifts.

Can AI help set us on a path to independence, given all the “intelligence” it can offer now or tomorrow? I suspect many of us have already begun to explore this question. If you’re using a ChatGPT-like chatbot (and chances are you are), you’ve probably asked some version of “How do I build a passive-income stream?” or “How can I start a side hustle?”.

Meanwhile, the internet is flooded with “AI gurus” promising everything from prompt libraries to full-fledged courses—each seeking to monetize your curiosity. Ironically, they’ve already built a financial model that profits from AI: after all, they use AI to create those offerings.

Although much of that content is mediocre and aimed at quick cash, it demonstrates one thing: AI can genuinely help us escape the “crush.” I’m not here to reveal a secret recipe for making money fast with AI.

Instead, I’m deeply exploring AI’s potential by taking free courses (and yes, AI can help you find those too). This keeps me up to date with the latest developments and teaches me how to experiment, learn, and pinpoint the best applications.

As a timestamp for future readers—June 1, 2025—tools like ChatGPT already offer incredible capabilities. Its deep-research functionality, for example, can compress what once took hours of investigation into a thirty-minute process—producing professional-grade insights in virtually any field.

In my view, having this level of “intelligence” at our fingertips is what each of us makes of it. We could become so dependent that we can’t conceive our next task without AI writing it for us. Or we could use it more judiciously—treating AI as a powerful assistant that helps us move forward, bit by bit, without letting it do all the thinking for us.

How will you choose to harness AI’s potential in your own journey?