If AI redefines work, how do we continue our careers and lives? – This big question we’ve asked in our second Meetup of Human Future Hub Community.
We heard real stories (jobs shifting, anxiety, hope) and recurring themes: governance and democracy, youth protection, fairness, UBI, reskilling, mental health, and the power of community. The consensus? Skills matter, but so do our values and connection.
Here’s a Deep Dive into what we heard from our members:
📉 Job market shifts: e.g., senior statisticians in pharma being replaced. Anxiety about breaking the social contract (degree does not equal good job).
🧪 Issues of biases: model bias (caused by biased training data) can skew high-stakes decisions. It’s not just technical, it’s social impact.
🤝 Human connection: everyone agreed that human interaction matters even more as systems automation increases all around us.
🫧 Isolation and AI as a “listener”: we’ve discussed AI filling emotional voids, but also over-agreeable AI (“sycophancy”), which reinforces harmful thinking spirals. Working with AI as a sparring partner or agent increases loneliness. That, combined with (post)COVID work models, creates a serious isolation issue.
⚖️ Fairness and funding: there are instruments available that governments don’t use. Namely, taxation of the biggest tech companies to enable financing of accessible upskilling.
💸 Universal Basic Income: Not only are economics in play, we also debated its impact on freedom, life choices, and living standards (how much are we willing to trade in the future?).
💙 Values, not just skills: we all feel the need to redefine personal values and purpose in an AI-shaped world. This question is left for every individual to answer for themselves.
What gaps and barriers stand in front of US Humans:
– Mental health: Rising demand for psychologists and community-level support.
– Youth protection: Concerns about harmful content and the long-term well-being of young people raise the need for digital literacy and support for parents/teachers.
– Reskilling + resources: Skills alone aren’t enough! People need real pathways and funding, also for trades like plumbing or welding.
What we CAN do together:
– Compile an open resource list (articles, videos, expert contacts) to keep us well-informed.
– Host upcoming sessions to continue the conversation and keep raising awareness – want to help or co-host in your city/town/village/island? Send us an email or DM on socials (Insta, LinkedIn)
It’s clear AI isn’t just about technology. It’s about society, trust, and how we prepare for the future together.
This was just the first step in building an open space for such conversations, and we’re super excited to continue exploring them in this community.
Humans together. Nobody is left behind!
HumanFutureHub #FutureOfWork #AIandSociety #ResponsibleAI #DigitalLiteracy #MentalHealth #EthicalAI #Reskilling #SocialContract
