A technology tool can now talk with a human being with such nuance that it amounts to a major human revolution — something unthinkable just ten years ago. As AI takes over more of what we call "work," one question will follow all of us: if humans no longer hold the monopoly on productive work, what will we do?
A video I recently watched about the exponential growth of Artificial Intelligence made me want to write down some thoughts I have had for a while. The fact that a technology tool can now talk with a human being with such nuance is a major human revolution. This was unthinkable just ten years ago.
Today, AI can solve math problems that leave top mathematicians speechless, making them question the future of their own profession. This shockwave will directly hit "white-collar" workers—intellectual and cognitive professionals like accountants, lawyers, programmers, and doctors. Soon, as AI and advanced robotics merge, "blue-collar" workers (factory workers, cleaners, handlers) will also be affected.
This brings up a huge question: if humans no longer hold the monopoly on productive work, what will they do? Spend their days watching Netflix on repeat? Play video games to escape boredom?
Work as the Pillar of Identity
Even when work seems to lack deep utility (the so-called bullshit jobs), it gives human beings a place in society, a social identity, and a sense of purpose. It offers structure: people know why they get up in the morning, how their week is organized, and when they will take time off.
For many years, I led retirement preparation workshops for international organizations. The most common existential questions were always the same: What will I do with my free time after the "honeymoon" phase of the first six months? How will I structure my days? Why get up in the morning? What place do I still have in society? And above all: How can I still feel useful?
The word "retirement" carries a quiet weight. Is it a retirement from working life, or a retirement from life itself?
The warning from philosopher Hannah Arendt feels unsettling today. Many professionals are not prepared for this empty space. Paradoxically, the people best prepared for this future might be those who experienced long-term unemployment: out of necessity, they had to learn to exist without the social status of a "worker."
Without this structure, we have to build new neural pathways and new ways of thinking about ourselves. I am especially worried about students currently in demanding university programs. Parts of their technical skills will be outdated before they even enter the job market. They will be expected to have senior-level skills without ever getting the chance to learn on junior-level tasks, because AI will do that entry-level work much faster and cheaper.
From Physical Strength to Cognitive Power
In his visionary book The End of Work (1995), economist and sociologist Jeremy Rifkin anticipated this issue. The revolution we are living through touches the core of our identity, because who we are has been tied to work since the beginning of human history.
Yet, this freedom from work was predicted long ago. In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes foresaw the rise of "technological unemployment," predicting that humanity would eventually solve its economic problem and work only 15 hours a week.
Over the last 150 years, humans gained more free time as machines freed them from hard physical labor (the Industrial Revolution). The AI revolution, as the culmination of this technological journey, is now freeing humans from mental labor.
The Abyss of Entertainment or Inner Awakening?
What paths lie ahead for humanity? Historian Yuval Noah Harari warns of a vast "useless class" from an economic standpoint. To prevent major social unrest, introducing a Universal Basic Income (UBI) seems essential.
Once basic material needs are met by machines and governments, society risks splitting over how to handle free time:
- One group will sink into passive consumption of constant entertainment (the Netflix and virtual reality syndrome)
- A middle group will feel lost, searching for new anchor points in life
- Another group will achieve extraordinary things, creating entirely new ways of living
This is where I want to share a vision of hope. If humans are truly freed from the burden of productive work, they face the most incredible opportunity in history: inner work.
After thousands of years spent shaping raw materials and building wealth, we now have the chance to truly get to know ourselves. We can develop our creativity for its own sake, cultivate our spirituality (free from religious dogma), and above all, learn to make peace with ourselves and those around us. Learn to love.
After centuries of wars and trying to fix problems through technology or politics, we may finally realize that outer problems require inner solutions. That is why I believe psychology and the exploration of human consciousness have a bright future ahead. They will become the real "work" of tomorrow.
This article was written in collaboration with Claude (Anthropic), used as a research, sourcing, and structuring tool. All ideas, experience, and analysis are the author's own.