The AI train has left the station, and there’s no turning this bad boy around. With the dawn of predictive and generative AI, humanity is on the brink of an Industrial Revolution. The reality is that AI’s influence is inevitable, and it’s crucial for us to adapt. Thanks things like capitalism, chances are your role, especially if you’re creative, will be redefined. The harsh truth is that even though CEOs may hate hybrid work, they will JUMP at the opportunity to automate work and replace employees with AI to cut costs. So, where does that leave us?

Don’t act surprised about artificial intelligence.  You’ve been using AI for years. You just never realized it. In fact, the ancient Greeks used things like an Atntikytera Mechanism to calculate astronomical positions, which is an early example of computational thinking.  Wendy’s has recently automated their drive-through with AI technology, and United Healthcare is using this technology to determine if you need that chemo for your pesky cancer. We all know how that turned out.

Take it from someone who knows; the first thing that usually gets axed when it comes to budgets at any company has something to do with creativity, marketing, or writing. You know, all the things I’ve taken up for income because being funny and good-looking doesn’t quite cut it. (You need wealthy parents, too.)

When I was forced to get a degree, I never thought I’d be bouncing from creative job to creative job without feeling fulfilled, yet here I am. As a creative, I’m used to being replaced by something cheaper or technology that can mimic my work. For years, I freelanced as a copywriter and digital nomad—until outsourcing overseas became the easier and more affordable option for my small business clientele. I would spend years building up the social media accounts of packaging companies, architecture firms, and pharmaceutical companies, only to be let go once the accounts were hoppin’, and my client didn’t want to pay my monthly stipend anymore.

I’ve thought about pivoting to something else. I love the radio, but radio DJs have become obsolete thanks to streaming services, payola, and automated DJs. Voiceover work is something I’m good at. Still, you can now create a voiceover with any generative AI. I thought about retreating from society and becoming a lighthouse operator. Still, you don’t need a crazy fish-eating psychopath to tend to a light these days. It’s all automatic! 

Having creative employment as a creative person isn’t just hard to keep—it’s hard to find! Once you get the creative job, corporate limitations and deadlines are set, which doesn’t always jive with a creative person’s mind or process. Managers want things done fast, but you might need to take a walk for an hour to get your ideas going. Corporate America doesn’t give a fuck! They want it done quickly, and they don’t give a shit about your process. That’s where generative AI steps in.

People are acting like AI is a giant robot that just attacked the city–wreaking havoc, destroying buildings, stealing copyrighted material, and passing it off as its own. THE HORROR! Avert your eyes! 

But what is the danger of this new technology? There will likely be an abundance of identity crises. Writers and creatives are already familiar with this subtle fear of being replaced by technology. Lawyers, consultants, and doctors need to worry now! I’ve asked Chat GPT to generate everything from travel itineraries and contracts for wedding photographers to questions about my health. Who needs universal healthcare? Not me! I have Chat GPT now.

Welcome to a future where all your degrees are replaced with machine learning algorithms and generative AI; we were promised that education would give us power and independence. The reality is that capitalism demands otherwise. Every way I’ve figured out how to make money with my creativity–something cheaper comes along that leaves me feeling obsolete.

How can I forget the environmental consequences of using AI? Datacenters that house these servers use tons of energy because the servers needed for AI run hot. An abundance of water is required to cool these servers–one Chat GPT request is the equivalent of pouring out a bottle of water. To put this into further context, Chat GPT receives over 10 million requests a day.

DeepSeek came in like a wrecking ball, proving they can create Generative AI with less computing power, which means fewer water bottles. This new energy-efficient form of generative AI will affect industries across the board, and China is the mastermind behind it. Our stock market didn’t respond well. American Tech Billionaires everywhere are running around their offices screaming more Regina George during an all-calorie diet.  

Here’s the thing: I’m not against AI. In fact, I’m actively using it on this website to promote the podcast. I have to– because if this technology is going to replace me eventually, I might as well learn as much as I can while I’m still employed. The overall consensus is that AI needs to have a human element. Whether it’s a human directing it or checking the work it presents, AI can’t stand alone as a reputable employee. But if we learn to work with AI, it can enhance our productivity and efficiency, making our jobs easier and more enjoyable. 

AI allows us to do our jobs well and quickly. If we all learned how to use this technology, we could cut our workload in half. If corporations are so hell-bent on jumping on this bandwagon, why not make like Tokyo and introduce the four-day workweek? If AI technology is presented ans a way to enhance our lives and reduce our workload, maybe it won’t be so scary. 

Then again, we have predictive AI, which sounds like the plot of Minority Report to me. I swear if I walk into a Hot Topic and they scan my eyeballs, I’m out.

What are we to do with this growing technology? Hide from it like it’s an impending robot overlord, or learn to wield it for our rest? Chances are, people will choose the latter, and I think that’s what I have to do right now to survive. I don’t love it, but it is what it is. I consider AI a frienemy. Sure, I’ll take a photo with her on the red carpet, but I’ve got one eye on that bitch. It’s okay to feel apprehensive about AI. It’s a significant change, and it’s natural to have concerns. But by acknowledging these challenges, we can better prepare ourselves for the future.

Written by Jo Anna Van Thuyne

AI technology was NOT used in the writing and research of this article.