Some people still think AI is a glorified autocomplete. Maybe they haven’t been paying attention.

At this point, AI can make new scientific discoveries, outsmart the best mathematicians, and even automate its own advancement.

It’s crossing milestones that skeptics called impossible, faster than believers expected.

Of course, resource constraints and missing technical breakthroughs could slow progress. And even when AI “works,” errors can make it unreliable without human oversight.

But once fully adopted, today’s AI is already good enough to disrupt entire industries.

The world’s most powerful players are optimistic about what’s ahead. They believe leading in AI is a matter of national survival (see President Trump’s recent AI Action Plan).

You can debate whether they’re right. But what happens if they are, and all your plans assumed otherwise?

“AI won’t replace you, a human using AI will.” Does that line sound familiar?

At first glance, history seems to agree. From the Industrial Revolution to the Internet, people have cried wolf about job loss before.

So what makes AI fundamentally different?

Past technologies targeted specific tasks: looms wove cloth, tractors plowed fields, calculators crunched numbers. AI is being built for any task.

Inventions like electricity and the steam engine were powerful, but not intelligent. Has humanity ever tried to automate the mind itself?

Today, AI feels like a chatbot that needs hand-holding. But the next leap is underway: AI agents that do complex work without human oversight.

At first, AI will mostly augment workers, freeing up time for higher-level tasks. In augmented roles, demand and pay could soar (this effect is called Jevon’s Paradox). That could be an exciting window to launch your career, and it might last pretty long.

But augmentation is just the opening act.

As AI enters your workplace, the training levels up. Out in the real world, AI models are absorbing use cases, nestling into workflows, and earning trust.

Timelines will vary by industry. But across the board, what starts off augmenting your job could end up automating it.

Our economy has weathered temporary shocks. AI might be a total reset: of what work means, where power flows, and who drives the economy.

You’re entering the job market at a volatile time. The white-collar ladder still starts at the bottom — but that junior work is exactly what AI does best.

Even if you’re in the job now, AI improves exponentially while you move up linearly. That’s a race you can’t win.

“But companies hire for potential, not current output.”

True. But let’s say AI could replace the bottom, compress the middle, and amplify the top. If the returns show up this quarter, why wait decades for you to mature?

With AI agents that can be duplicated and scaled at ease, organizations could accomplish more with less. Once one competitor proves it — and clients realize they’re overpaying — others will face pressure to keep up.

Of course, ChatGPT’s letterhead wouldn’t pack the same punch as J.P. Morgan’s. AI can’t beat that brand equity yet.

But does prestige come from the 22-year-olds, or from the managing directors whose reputations move markets?

When AI supercharges the top, firms can shrink the bottom without losing what clients pay for.

Some industries are already buying experience instead of building it. Sure, external hires may lack some insider knowledge. But in markets constantly bracing for disruption, having a real-world track record matters more.

Soon, powerful institutions could close their old gates. To get ahead, you need a game plan.

There’s no crystal ball to reveal what’s coming. The economy might look pretty normal for years (hence The Tactician).

It’s still smart to prepare now, but let’s talk about it: what else could slow this down?

Jobs aren’t just checklists. Project managers schedule meetings, but they also navigate office politics. The “last mile” of automation (handling exceptions, reading people, earning trust) will be harder and more valuable than the first.

Integration is messy. Most teams rely on legacy systems and undocumented knowledge. Even when AI can do the job, companies could delay until a competitor proves it’s worth the hassle.

Workers will fight back. Take the Hollywood actors’ and screenwriters’ strikes.

Regulation slows rollout. In sectors like healthcare, new innovations face layers of compliance. Even if AI outperformed radiologists, legal approval could take years.

Optics matter. Law firms worry about data security. Banks fear spooking clients. Where trust is the product, automation will be measured.

Manual labor comes later. In the past, machines primarily displaced physical work, but here the tables are turning: knowledge work is most vulnerable. Progress on humanoid robots is still early.

So yes, there’s a lag between what AI can do and what AI is doing. That’s not security — that’s a countdown.

Eventually, the dam could break. For much of Silicon Valley, automating the economy is the whole point.

Across San Francisco, self-driving Waymos now beat Lyfts. Waymo riders are clearly happy to pay the premium.

What seemed unthinkable in 2023 is now an ordinary sight. The countdown ends, and then the future is just … here.

For decades, a degree was the standard path to career success. Now, that’s changing.

It’s already harder than ever to land your first job. That’s before AI truly enters the picture. You’re making risky investments just as the economy changes forever.

So what now?

Of course, the college experience still matters, especially at more selective schools with strong residential cultures and broad intellectual life.

College also builds general work skills that equip you to better adapt to new technology.

You may not need to finish the degree to get the value, but think carefully before leaving early for an outside opportunity. That playground for socialization, self-discovery, and serendipity is hard to recreate.

Four things to consider:

• Risk How soon will AI disrupt your field?
• Cost What’s the true price in tuition, debt, and missed income? Will financial aid and scholarships recoup costs?
• Experience What are you gaining beyond employability?
• Timing Is this the most direct path to your goals?

Considering alternatives? Trade programs, apprenticeships, strategic gap years, or leaving college early could make sense for you.

If you’re staying in school: Do paid internships. Master AI tools while they’re still amplifying human work. Find lifelong friends. Leave with experiences, connections, and the discipline to work hard, not just a degree.

Our leaders have their work cut out for them. In the long run, AI could birth a new social contract.

• How do we strengthen safety nets for unemployment?
• How can we ensure everyone shares in the wealth AI creates?
• What happens to culture, status, and identity when people have more free time?

These are big questions governments must answer.

If we get this right, you could be coming of age at the richest, most abundant time in history.

Freed from drudgery, we could focus on what we find most meaningful. The economy would explode, lifting quality of life and accelerating innovation.

But if we don’t, automation could strip us of power and purpose, enrich only a narrow elite, and enable risks we can’t reverse.

Politicians are stuck dismissing, debating, and delaying. You can’t afford to wait and see.

Lead the way by making a game plan, learning how to use AI, urging your elected officials to take action, and starting honest conversations with family and friends.

We’re not powerless. Before it’s too late, we need to pay attention, speak up, and start steering.