Future @ Work

    The future of work is something to ponder. The traditional 9-to-5 or 40-hour workweek is becoming obsolete for the younger generation, who prioritize faster rewards, whether in money or career growth. This shift has already led to the rise of freelancing. Over time, the importance of "time" as a primary factor for pay is being replaced by "skill." Gradually, even skills might become less critical. But what will replace skills? Perhaps, it's attitude. Maybe.

    Consider the ASK model (A - Attitude, S - Skills, K - Knowledge). While knowledge is important, it’s no longer a major differentiator in an era where humans compete with AI. Information is abundant, and machines excel at processing it into insights. Skills matter to an extent, but they too might become redundant in the near future. Attitude, however, is where humans can still shine—our emotional intelligence and personal touch make a difference. At least for now, this gives us an edge.

    Historically, humanity evolved from hunters to settlers, learning to grow and store food for survival. Over time, the concept of "time as money" emerged during the Industrial Revolution, when productivity was tied to hours worked. However, we’re never satisfied; evolution pushes us forward. Automation led to AI, which has redefined work.

    In today’s world, work is about the speed of execution, often leveraging AI capabilities. It’s no longer about time but about the quality and impact of output. If time becomes irrelevant in the future of work, what truly matters?

    Analyzing further, the inputs to a task or project—effort, time, focus, intent, determination, and courage—result in outputs like quality, cost, duration, efficiency, and learnings. By leveraging AI, effort and time can be drastically reduced, often enhancing output. However, this raises concerns: could humans become redundant? Are we really a commodity in the future?  

    No doubt, we have made remarkable technological progress, but at what cost? The lesson might be that "too much is too bad." Eventually, we may realize the value of simple living, leading to a collective detox from technology. This reflection is part of our learning curve.

    God, as always, will protect us—whether from external demons or the creations of our own extreme intelligence. Thank you, God!