min. readBecause this time, it feels deeply strange. The AI don’t just crunch numbers anymore, they write screenplays, diagnose symptoms, generate voices, and design logos in seconds. They pass law exams. They compose symphonies. They speak in your voice, finish your emails, and occasionally suggest ideas you hadn’t even considered. It’s not just fast, it’s uncannily capable. The kind of capable that makes you pause and wonder, “Wait… who’s actually doing the work here?” And that’s the part that gets under our skin. It’s not the tech itself, it’s how eerily human it feels. Almost like it’s watching, learning, becoming something else entirely.
But then, take a breath. Zoom out. We’ve been spooked by technology before. The printing press, electricity, radio, even the first computers, every one of them arrived with whispers of the end. And yet, every single time, we didn’t disappear. We recalibrated. We found new rhythms, new roles, new ways of adding value. This isn’t the apocalypse. It’s an acceleration.
Yes, the shift feels intense. Yes, it’s disorienting to see tools do creative work with uncanny precision. But here’s what hasn’t changed: curiosity still matters. So does taste. So does judgment, timing, trust, and the quiet magic of being a person who understands other people. AI may get things done, but humans decide why they matter. That’s still your lane, and it’s not going anywhere.
What Is the Jevons Paradox and Why It Still Matters in the AI and Jobs Debate
Back in 1865, economist William Stanley Jevons noticed something odd. As steam engines became more efficient at using coal, coal usage didn’t go down, it went up. A lot. Why? Because making something easier and cheaper to use makes people want it more.
This became known as the Jevons Paradox: when something becomes more efficient, demand usually increases.
Fast forward to today. AI is speeding things up, removing grunt work, and making daily tasks easier across the board. And instead of slowing down the need for talent, it’s doing the opposite. Everyone wants to build more, launch more, do more.
AI and Jobs: The Internet Was Supposed to End Everything Too
In the 1990s, the internet sparked a full-on panic.
People thought it would ruin bookstores, destroy journalism, collapse education, and turn offices into ghost towns. The drama was real.
Now here you are, reading this blog thanks to the internet.
Every major tech leap starts with fear. Then, slowly, it becomes the foundation for an entirely new way of living and working.
We’ve been here before.
AI and Jobs: Why This Panic Feels So Personal
Unlike past tech shifts, this one feels personal. It’s not just about new tools or faster systems. It’s about how we work, what we do, and whether our roles will still exist.
You’ve probably seen the headlines:
- “AI is taking over jobs”
- “Smart tools are replacing humans”
- “Whole teams are being restructured”
Even Fiverr’s CEO told his employees, “AI is coming for your jobs. Heck, it’s coming for my job too.”
But here’s the thing. We’ve heard this story before, and it always ends with something unexpected: growth.
Let’s Be Real About What AI Can Actually Do
Today AI can:
- Speed up repetitive tasks
- Draft, sort, and organize
- Help teams work faster and more efficiently
But today, AI can’t:
- Make decisions with real-world context
- Understand emotions or intentions
- Think strategically or creatively
- Replace human connection
- Build culture or lead a team
They’re helpful, but they’re not you. You’re the one who brings judgment, empathy, and imagination into the mix and that still matters.
The Truth About AI and Jobs: Roles Aren’t Disappearing, They’re Shifting
This shift isn’t about getting rid of jobs. It’s about changing how they work.
Developers are building faster and thinking more about product logic.
Designers are generating ideas quicker and spending more time refining vision.
Marketers are analyzing results in minutes and using that time to brainstorm better campaigns.
This isn’t about cutting people out. It’s about giving people space to focus on the parts of their work that actually need a human brain.
Jevons 2.0: The More Efficient We Get, the More We Want
Just like coal use soared with better engines, work is multiplying thanks to smarter tools.
Need to send more personalized emails? Done.
Want to test more creative ideas? No problem.
Launching new campaigns, faster than ever? Absolutely.
Efficiency doesn’t shrink opportunity. It expands it. Once something becomes easier, everyone wants more of it. Which means more work, not less.
What I think AI Can’t Touch and Never Will
There are still things no tool can replicate:
- Judgment: knowing when to take a risk
- Empathy: understanding people, not just data
- Creativity: seeing what hasn’t been done yet
- Communication: telling stories that land and inspire
- Leadership: building trust, guiding others, making the call
These aren’t “nice to have” anymore. They’re what make you valuable. And they’re exactly what the future of work needs.
The Real Wake-Up Call Isn’t AI, It’s the Comfort Zone
This shift is big, yes. But the real risk isn’t being replaced. It’s staying still.
You don’t have to become an AI genius. But being curious, flexible, and open? That’s your edge.
It’s not about becoming something new overnight. It’s about being willing to adjust, to rethink what you do, and to keep growing.
The ones who will thrive are the ones who lean in, not out.
My Final Thoughts: The Jobs Are Still Here, Just Wearing New Outfits
Every new wave of tech brings the same drama.
- Smartphones were going to melt our brains.
- Now smart AI is going to destroy work altogether.
Spoiler: We’re still here
And if history has taught us anything, it’s this, the fear is loudest right before the transformation kicks in.
This isn’t the end. It’s the next chapter. The tools are changing, yes, but the need for humans? Still here. Still strong. Still evolving.
So don’t panic. Get curious.
And remember you’ve made it through every shift before this one.