This is a question of the times, and one I have been asked in a variety of ways over the past six – 12 months. Having been helping people with their careers for over 20 years, I’ve seen how technology has impacted and shifted work. But right now, this feels like a whole new world that is hard to predict. So today, I’m going to give you my thoughts about the question “How can I future-proof my career against AI?”
I will start this with complete transparency. I am not a fan of AI. I don’t trust the ethics, commercial strategy, its “hallucinations,” the data collection and the way the models are taught . I also have massive concerns about the environmental impacts, both power and water consumption. Because of this, I avoid it as much as I can. But I didn’t think like this when it first started to be rolled out. It felt exciting, efficient, and creative; from AI-generated playlists, summarising tools, to idea generation. I remember defending AI during conversations with family members who were (rightfully) suspicious.
Over time, things shifted for me.
I have lived and worked through the dot.com boom, graduating into work at the peak (2000) and watching how it crashed around two years later. I acknowledge how the evolution in technology has allowed me to sit here, at home, doing the work that I do, but having watched the bubble bursting, and the effect that had globally, I am rightfully cautious. There are conversations that AI systems are “running out of data” to train on; with so much online data being created by AI, it’s training itself with itself. Just imagine how that impacts the quality of outputs. Not only that, but there are also impacts on mental health, as well as jobs being displaced as industries are being changed as they onboard AI. Mckinsey’s State of AI 2025, shows that over 70% of companies have already adopted one tool for a generative AI!
However, I can see how, in limited sectors and scenarios, this can make a real impact when used consciously. The medical field, as one example, has already shown some lifesaving impacts of accuracy that can’t be replicated currently with the human eye. If the horse has bolted, let’s try to make it work for humanity, rather than against.
Now, back to the question at hand. Futureproofing your career has always been a necessary conversation. In fact, I discussed this on this blog for the first time in 2017, considering the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and the skills we needed in the 2020s. And, well, here we are already! But I never expected when I wrote that, 8 years ago, we’d be talking about hallucinating models and the “em-dash” being a (alleged) trait of AI-written content!
So, when it comes to future-proofing your career against AI, and the impacts of organisations using AI, this is the best, educated guess based on my experience, research and observations.
- Hang on to humanity.
Unique, person-centric work will become and hopefully remain a privilege and premium. Engage with communities, groups and specialisms that call for development, ideas, and unique perspectives. AI is currently, generating ideas, processes and systems that already exist We need to the human wisdom to sense check and make new and interesting connections. . Interestingly, in a recent article, the jobs that we saw that “AI can’t touch” include roles that create things and have a “hands-on approach”.
- Diversify
Long before AI became the juggernaut it is predicted to be, people were building portfolio careers. Even I, as a Coach, have several ways that I make my income: consulting, mentoring, coaching, and training. So, for you, that may look like having several streams to your career, be it several part-time jobs, the (dreaded) side hustle, or evolving your career as it progresses. The days of a job for life are gone, so consider what you need to do next, One way to diversify is through point 3. Another, which may feel a bit “out of the box”, but bear with me, is to increase your financial literacy; make sure you understand more about money, debt, leverage and capitalism. These can help you widen your knowledge when you are making choices.
- Keep CPD in mind!
You may not realise it, but you have already developed your skills in line with changes in technology. It’s just the pace is at a rate that seems faster than we have ever known. Rather than waiting for others to tell you what to do next, scope out what jobs are being advertised in your sector, what products and services are being sold and identify your own gaps. This SWOT analysis can help. There are people who are much more experienced and with more time than I, who are actively looking at the future skills. This website is an amazing resource, and gives reassurance that whilst the industrial revolution will change jobs, other areas will grow. They show that whilst AI and “big data” are top of the list, things like cybersecurity, technological literacy, creative thinking, resilience, and environmental stewardship are also something that we need to have and will be desirable across the globe.
- Align with your values.
Finally, and maybe most importantly for a career to enjoy, you need to stay true to who you are and what is important to you. You can choose to lean into AI, if that is what works for you and your worldview, or lean against it, if it doesn’t. And, as I mentioned at the beginning, you can change you mind, as your understanding and experiences grow.
Use your values and ethics as a basis for your decision-making. If you are going to lean into AI, consider which organisations, platforms and sectors are trying to make a difference and utilise technology to impact lives positively. Areas to consider with industries and products that keep data safe, protect and pay the creatives/content, pay attention to the mental health impact on users and are transparent about the risks of AI. Many companies have signed up to UNESCO’s recommendation to build more “ethical AI”, and a quick search shows that some organisations are building their models with this in mind.
Like any technological change, especially where they are being implemented within the organisation you work for, ask why. What is the purpose of using it, and are there any other ways this can be delivered? You can future-proof your career, in part, if you are part of the conversations and decision-making. Like anything, you want to be involved and influence where you can; from conversations at work, where you spend you money to the political parties that support the way that society and the environment is being impacted by AI.
So, there is my quick two-pence worth on AI and four key ways to futureproof your career against AI and other technological advances.
What do you think? I’d love your perspective.
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You can find my previous Q&A here.
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
