AI, Crypto, and the Future of Work: A Mixed Bag for Gen Z

As someone who's been in the tech trenches for a while now, it's hard not to feel a bit conflicted about the latest wave of innovation. AI is here, and it's changing everything. But as I read more about it, especially concerning my younger colleagues—many of whom are just starting out—I can't help but feel a sense of unease.

The Landscape: AI's Role in Job Automation

The stats are pretty stark. According to surveys by General Assembly, 62% of Gen Z workers think their jobs could be replaced by AI within the next decade. And why wouldn't they? We've seen countless headlines about companies using AI as an excuse to trim their workforce. An outplacement firm reported over 4,600 job cuts in the U.S. attributed to AI in just one year—and that number is probably low.

What’s fascinating (and a bit alarming) is the generational divide. Only 6% of executives see AI as a threat to their roles; seasoned decision-makers aren’t worried because they know their experience isn’t easily replicable. But entry-level workers? Yeah, they’re feeling it.

AI can now do many basic tasks that used to fall on junior staff—tasks that many are doing right now in their first jobs out of college.

Soft Skills: The New Differentiator in an AI-Dominated World

So what’s the answer? If you believe Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, it’s not about fighting against AI; it’s about being the person who knows how to use it effectively. He put it bluntly: "the person who uses AI to automate 20% of their job is going to take your job."

But here’s where things get interesting—and somewhat hopeful. As more independent and technical tasks get handed off to our silicon overlords, soft skills become critical. Employers are already noticing that younger workers often lack these essential skills.

A study from Fast Company found that integrity, strategic vision, and interpersonal communication are key skills that will only become more valuable as we integrate more advanced technologies into our workplaces.

Emerging Crypto Projects: A Double-Edged Sword

And then there’s crypto—a field still so nascent that its future feels like a wild west frontier. On one hand, there are countless opportunities for those willing to dive in and learn; on the other hand, many projects seem almost designed for self-destruction.

Take Fetch.ai or Cortex for example—these projects leverage autonomous agents or on-chain AI inference respectively—but what happens when everyone knows how to use these tools? Aren't we all just waiting for another DAO hack?

In some ways these emerging technologies feel like an echo chamber designed specifically for people like me: early adopters who remember dial-up modems and floppy disks but also know how quickly things can change.

Summary: Embrace Change but Stay Human

So where does this leave us? If you're getting into crypto or any other industry right now—yes! Use ChatGPT! Let it help you learn new things at an accelerated pace! Just don’t forget that at some point along this journey you’ll need face-to-face interactions too because those connections will make all the difference down the line.

AI might be here to stay—but so should our humanity amidst all its automation possibilities.