Check out this post from the CEO of Fiverr …
At a time when AI is rapidly replacing the global workforce, this post was incredibly tone deaf.
While I understand that this is just the direction in which the world is heading, and we all have to adapt to this reality, you’d think a guy who got paid $14.3 million in 2024 would know to hire a better comms director. Just from a PR perspective, this is a fail.
Of course, shareholders were happy with this announcement. The stock popped more than 15% once the news hit. Check it out …
And while the stock did sell off a bit after that announcement, the inconvenient truth is that what Fiverr did is little more than an illustration of what’s to come, as replacing workers with AI just makes economic sense.
That being said, no one really knows how fast this proverbial AI Armageddon is going to happen. Or if it actually will.
According to researchers at Yale, the broader labor market has not experienced a discernible disruption since ChatGPT’s release 33 months ago, thereby undercutting fears that AI automation is currently eroding demand for cognitive labor across the economy.
Here’s a snippet from their report, which was released last week …
While this finding may contradict the most alarming headlines, it is not surprising given past precedents. Historically, widespread technological disruption in workplaces tends to occur over decades, rather than months or years. Computers didn’t become commonplace in offices until nearly a decade after their release to the public, and it took even longer for them to transform office workflows. Even if new AI technologies will go on to impact the labor market as much, or more, dramatically, it is reasonable to expect that widespread effects will take longer than 33 months to materialize.
Indeed, it will take longer than 33 months to figure out how this will all play out. But here’s my take …
Three years ago, ChatGPT’s ability to do my job as a content writer was incredibly limited. It wasn’t yet good enough to serve as any kind of legitimate replacement. Then back in April, my staff writing job at a financial publishing company was eliminated, partly as a result of ChatGPT’s ability to be “good enough.” By the end of the decade, it’ll be better than just “good enough.” It’ll be superior in so many ways, and more jobs will be lost as a result.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a new technology completely disrupt job markets.
Feeding the AI Monster
About 100 years ago, the world witnessed the power of the internal combustion engine, which ultimately replaced the horse and buggy. Jobs were lost in the horse and buggy industry, but even more jobs were created in the car manufacturing industry.
We saw similar outcomes over the years in communications, farming, retail, and banking, too. All industries that shed jobs, but also created an equal amount of jobs as a result. In the case of job losses as a result of AI, we are seeing other jobs being created in the process. Yet I fear that those replacement jobs won’t keep pace with continued job losses.
I hope I’m wrong, but for now, let’s consider the following industries that are susceptible to AI replacing actual human workers …
Writers
Customer service reps
Bookkeepers
Data analysts
Coders
Web developers
Truck drivers
Security guards
Pharmacists
Legal assistants
Investment analysts
Truth is, one day, many of these jobs will be about as common as ice cutters and scissor grinders are today.
Whether this is a good thing or bad thing remains to be seen.
For guys like me, though - with more than 5 decades under our belts and multiple decades of experience in industries that may need 90% less human workers in just ten years – this is still a scary proposition. Particularly when you consider that many of us won’t be retiring for at least another 20 years. If we’re lucky.
Fortunately, I’ve been able to rustle up enough side hustles to keep me afloat for now. But those, too, will subside in the coming months and years. So I’ve been looking to get into a new line of work. I’ve been told that I should seek work in the AI industry. There are two options here:
1.) Use my experience and skillset as a writer to help train the AI monster. I looked into that. And if I could live on $20 an hour, that would be a possibility.
2.) Learn a skill that will be necessary to feed the AI monster. Some of these jobs include …
Machine Learning Engineer: designing, building and managing machine learning software applications and algorithms
AI Research Scientist: developing new AI algorithms, models and technologies through research
Robotics Engineer: designing, building and testing robots
Computer Vision Engineer: creating systems that allow computers to interpret and understand visual data from images and videos
Natural Language Processing Engineer: developing systems and algorithms that enable computers to understand, interpret and generate human language
Generative AI Engineer: creating, improving, and utilizing generative AI models to produce new content
Deep Learning Specialist: focusing on a type of machine learning that involves artificial neural networks
According to what I found, using AI (ironic, I know), these jobs require relevant degrees in math, computer science, engineering or statistics.
I wasn’t smart enough to get beyond basic computer science and math classes in college. How the hell am I going to figure out this kind of stuff now? Not that I’m not open to going back to school to figure it out. Hell, I’d actually jump at the opportunity. I’m just not sure how to pony up for college tuition while making enough to afford my mortgage payment, food, utilities, kids, kids’ activities, and the occasional splurge at Chipotle.
I’m also not sure how to manage the time commitment while hustling for pennies and trying to ensure I have time to spend with my family at night and on the weekends.
Indeed, there’s always a way. And perhaps I sound like I’m making excuses. Shit, maybe I am. Maybe I can chisel out a few hours at night and on the weekends to make this happen. It’s certainly been on my mind lately.
Either way, the question still remains …
Will there be enough jobs in AI to replace the jobs being replaced by AI?
I don’t know the answer to that question. And to be honest, I feel like a bit of a Luddite suggesting that there won’t be enough replacement jobs created to counter lost jobs as a result of AI. But what do I know? I’m just a writer without a full-time gig and a credit card balance that continues to grow to levels I haven’t seen since I worked as a touring musician.
In any event, if you are young enough, I highly recommend preparing for a world where many of today’s jobs will be replaced by AI. Use your time wisely, and either get on the AI train now, or learn a skill that will get you a job that won’t be replaced by AI. These include, but are not limited to …
Electrician
Plumber
Welder
Teacher
Doctor
Nurse
Therapist
Social worker
Coach / Personal trainer
Landscaper
Car, truck or airplane mechanic
HVAC technician
Massage therapist
Tattoo artist
Paramedic
Firefighter
Police Officer
Honestly, if I were younger, with less family responsibilities (which are huge time commitments), I’d probably look for something in the healthcare field. But for now, I’ll just have to keep hustling the written word, along with some of the knowledge I’ve amassed over the years as an investment analyst and professional shit-talker.
What I’m reading …
Kiss reality goodbye: AI-generated social media has arrived: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/03/nx-s1-5560200/openai-sora-social-media
CEO Solomon Says AI will Create Jobs at Goldman Sachs: ‘We’ll Wind Up With More Jobs 10 Years from Now Than We Have Today: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ceo-solomon-says-ai-create-151602012.html
Ford CEO Jim Farley hopes AI will help blue-collar works: https://fortune.com/2025/10/04/ford-ceo-jim-farley-ai-blue-collar-workers-data-center-jobs-technology/