Let's clear something up.
AI isn't coming for your job. At least, not in the way you think. Yes, companies are trimming teams and slapping "AI-enhanced" labels on skeleton crews. Yes, one person can now do the job of four (on paper, at least). And yes, AI can draft an email, clean up some code, and spit out a mood board in seconds.
As someone deeply entrenched in the world of apps and product design, I've had this conversation of, "Will AI replace us?" more times than I can count. And the answer, from my perspective and that of many of the other leaders and creatives I've spoken with, is a resounding "no." (Not yet 🥲)
We need to stop confusing the tools with the talent. Like any other tool in our arsenal, AI is just that — a tool. Figma didn't create better designers. Excel didn't create better strategists. And AI isn't creating better thinkers. It's just removing the grunt work. And when execution gets easy, the real bottleneck becomes human judgment and originality.
Welcome to the new playing field.
The Role of AI Tools
There's no doubt that AI tools are powerful. They allow us to automate routine tasks, analyze massive amounts of data, and even make predictions with uncanny accuracy. But at their core, these tools are just enablers. They help us to perform our tasks more efficiently, to make more informed decisions, and to deliver better products and services. But they don't define our skills or our worth.
A hammer doesn't make a carpenter. A DSLR doesn't make a photographer. And AI? It doesn't make someone a creative. Tools enable, but they don't invent, and that's the heart of this shift.
The real value isn't in how you use the tool. It's in what you use it to make. The best creatives, strategists, and product thinkers I know treat AI like any other tool in their kit: helpful, sometimes brilliant, but never the whole solution. They still rely on their instincts, their unique POV, and their ability to make calls when the data can't decide.
AI can tell you what's been done. It can remix what's already out there. But it can't decide what should exist next.
If Everything's Possible, What's Valuable?
So what differentiates us as AI becomes ubiquitous and everyone has access to the same tools? How do we determine genuine talent from "talented at using AI?"
It's our human skills. It's the stuff that AI can't replicate and the qualities that make us uniquely human. When AI makes everyone faster, sharper, and seemingly more creative, the differentiator is no longer execution. It's discernment. It's the ability to sort through weeds and tell what's good. These are skills that AI, for all its prowess, can't replace.
These foundational human skills are more critical than ever in a landscape saturated with AI tools. They are what define us, not the tools we use. The real edge is in sharpening your judgment. Developing your taste. Being able to say, "this is on brand," "this is worth testing," "this is the one."
Staying Ahead in the AI Game
AI is here to stay, and it will continue to evolve the way we work. Some roles will shrink. Some will disappear. That's the nature of innovation. But the people who stick around? They won't be the ones who cling to the old ways. They'll be the ones evolving their skills, not just their toolkits.
If anything, AI is making us more aware of what makes us irreplaceable.
Creativity. Strategy. Empathy. Taste. The stuff that's harder to define and even harder to teach. That's what companies will be hiring for. That's what will set teams apart. That's what still can't be automated.
AI isn't coming for your job. But someone who knows how to use AI — and still thinks like a designer, builder, or leader — just might. So yes, learn the tools. But double down on the skills. Because when the playing field levels, your perspective is the only unfair advantage you've got.
