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Kazuyoshi Hisano is the president and CEO of Conoway, Inc.
Over the last few decades, groundbreaking technologies have transformed our personal and professional lives, from the internet and the cloud to smartphones and smart home devices. Yet nothing can prepare us for the impact that AI will have on our future.
How AI Is Changing The Future Of Work
AI development and adoption are accelerating at a precipitous pace. In a global McKinsey survey from early 2024, 65% of respondents from a range of companies, industries and regions said that their organizations are regularly using generative AI, nearly twice the percentage from a survey 10 months earlier. A survey of AI researchers showed that experts in the field are experiencing the same increase in momentum. Between 2022 and 2023, respondents’ predictions about achieving high-level machine intelligence decreased by 13 years, while their forecasts about full automation of labor dropped by 48 years.
It’s not pessimistic or far-fetched to say that AI will fundamentally—and permanently—change the nature of work in the near future. Some new jobs will emerge, but many more will be altered or eliminated. Recent IMF research found that AI will affect almost 40% of global jobs and 60% of jobs in advanced economies.
Automation and other technological developments have historically affected routine or repetitive tasks, but what differentiates AI is its ability to learn, advance and manage high-level responsibilities. The invention of the automobile revolutionized the speed and efficiency of transportation, but early cars didn’t evolve to learn how to fly or speak. AI will continue to become more capable and intelligent over time.
We have to accept the reality of the changes AI will bring, both positive and negative. There is no going backward. Most individuals and organizations won’t stop using AI. Its benefits are too great, and they risk losing a competitive advantage and getting left behind if they opt out. AI is also being developed so quickly by so many different entities that it would be an impossible task to control or halt its progress. In the 20th century, world leaders understood the threat of nuclear weapons and negotiated the terms of a treaty to prevent proliferation—but this outcome was only feasible because it involved a limited number of people and countries. AI can’t be contained in the same way.
Shifting How We Think About Purpose
For many of us, our work is a central part of our identity. It is a major factor in our self-image and sense of purpose, and societal expectations only reinforce this feedback loop. So while taking a month, or even a year, off work might sound nice, we would likely struggle to find meaning and fulfillment if AI took over our jobs tomorrow. In a McKinsey survey, 89% of respondents—employees from all levels of their organizations—said they want purpose in their lives, and 70% said “their sense of purpose is largely defined by work.”
Economic stability is obviously an important component of our relationship with work. But I believe that even if we had a universal basic income to cover our living expenses—which seems feasible when widespread job displacement occurs—not working would have a serious impact on our mental health. To prepare for a new era of work defined by AI, we need to look for purpose and satisfaction beyond our work.
Strategies For Thriving In A New Era
1. Expand Your Comfort Zone
Lasting fulfillment comes from within, not from external validation. Spend some time reflecting on your current comfort zone or self-image, and record your thoughts in a journal. How do you perceive your strengths and contributions outside of your paid work? What defines your identity? What daily habits give you energy, peace or satisfaction? What are your dreams and goals in your personal life? Reread your journal entry, and look for insights or themes that spark your curiosity. What do you want to explore more to expand your comfort zone?
2. Redefine Your Balance Wheel
I often ask my coaching clients to create a balance wheel—a simple tool to help them visualize the most important areas of their life. Create your own balance wheel: Draw a large circle on a sheet of blank paper, and divide it into eight to 10 segments representing your biggest priorities. Some examples include work, family, friends, money, health, community, spirituality and hobbies.
Write several goals for each area of your balance wheel. You may have done this kind of exercise with your professional objectives but probably not with goals around your friendships or hobbies. Treat each category with the same importance that you give to work. This exercise helps you develop a more holistic view of personal fulfillment.
3. Prioritize Relationships
As our world is increasingly shaped by AI, human connection is more valuable than ever. Cultivate your emotional intelligence, empathy and listening skills. Start investing more time and energy in nurturing your existing relationships and building new genuine connections.
4. Look For A New Purpose
If work isn’t the central purpose in your life in five or 15 years, what will be? Technology is rapidly changing how we live and work, but let curiosity and optimism—not fear—guide the way you think about the future. What ideas and activities would you pursue if you had more time at your disposal? Envision what your life would look like if you spent your days volunteering or mentoring in your community, pursuing creative projects or learning about topics that interest you.
Don’t wait for change to be forced on you; start exploring these possibilities now. Think of this transformational moment as an opportunity to rebalance your life and reimagine your purpose.
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