AI Is Changing Work—And Yes, That’s Scary

I won’t sugarcoat it—AI is changing our jobs.

Not in some distant, sci-fi future. It’s happening right now.

Entire teams have been impacted because AI models now handle what used to take them weeks. Skills that once made people valuable are becoming automated overnight. And honestly? That’s terrifying.

But this isn’t the first time technology has upended our work.

The 45-Minute Call That Made Me Rethink AI

A few months ago, I had a flight abruptly postponed by the airline. Not just a delay—a full reschedule that didn’t work for me. I needed to get to my destination, and I needed options—fast.

Like any normal person, I panicked.

I immediately went online to change my flight. But the self-service options? Confusing. Limited. Useless.

So I did what we’ve all had to do at some point—I called customer service.

And then, I waited. And waited. And waited.

For 45 minutes, I sat there, stuck in the queue. All I needed was to talk to a human—to explain my constraints, understand what was possible, and make a decision. But instead, I was trapped in the frustrating loop of hold music and robotic messages telling me how “important my call was.”

Here’s the thing: I understand that airlines have limited options. I get that they’re balancing demand, policies, and logistics. But I just needed clarity—quickly.

And that’s when it hit me.

Agentic AI could have solved this instantly.

Imagine if an AI system had just listened to my situation, understood my urgency, and presented options that made sense for me—instead of forcing me to navigate a slow, outdated process.

This is where Agentic AI comes in.

Agentic AI: The New Co-Pilot for Work

Unlike traditional automation, Agentic AI isn’t just about doing tasks—it’s about understanding context, making decisions, and working alongside humans.

If an Agentic AI system had been handling my airline issue, here’s how it would have worked:

1. It would’ve immediately recognised my constraints (flight urgency, alternative routes, budget).
2. It would’ve scanned available flights in real-time and filtered viable options based on my needs.
3. If the options weren’t perfect, it could’ve escalated the case to a human agent—giving them full context so I didn’t have to repeat myself.

No waiting. No confusion. No frustration.

Now, imagine that same AI-driven problem-solving approach applied to everyday work.

AI Is Taking Over Some Skills—But It’s Giving Us a Chance to Rethink Work

Every job has always been about leveraging a set of skills honed over time. But when AI automates a skill we thought was “safe,” we’re forced to ask:

• What parts of our jobs actually require human expertise?
• What tasks can AI handle better than us?
• Where do we need to adapt?

Think about customer service.

Companies rushed to implement AI-powered chatbots, thinking they could replace human support. And for basic tasks—password resets, refund requests, tracking orders—chatbots worked.

But then reality set in.

Customers still needed human help—just not for simple things. We needed expertise, empathy, and problem-solving.

So what happened?

The customer service agents who survived weren’t the ones answering basic questions. They were the ones who evolved into specialists—handling complex issues, guiding customers through high-stakes decisions, and even training AI systems to be better.

And this is exactly how Agentic AI is transforming jobs:

• AI is automating data-heavy work—so analysts are becoming strategic advisors, not spreadsheet operators.
• AI is handling first-line medical scans—so radiologists are shifting to interpretation, treatment planning, and patient care.
• AI is writing and debugging code—so engineers are focusing on designing systems and optimising AI models.

Some jobs are changing. Others are being redefined.

AI as an Active Collaborator—Not Just a Tool

Agentic AI isn’t about eliminating work—it’s about evolving work.

It integrates into workflows without disrupting them, acting as an always-on co-pilot. It learns from us, improves over time, and most importantly—it lets humans focus on higher-value work.

Take a financial analyst, for example.

• Before Agentic AI? Hours spent aggregating data, compiling reports, and running calculations (Try Open AI Deep research, Deep seek or Perplexity Deep Research).
• After Agentic AI? Instant insights, automated financial models—freeing analysts to focus on big-picture strategy.

Or consider a product manager.

• Before? Endless user testing cycles, guessing at customer pain points.
• After? AI simulates UX flows, predicts engagement trends, and flags weak spots—before testing even begins.

Agentic AI isn’t just another automation tool—it’s a partner in how we make decisions, solve problems, and think about work.

AI Is Here. Now What?

I won’t pretend this transition is easy. Change is always messy, uncomfortable, and unfair. Some people will adapt quickly, while others will struggle to find their footing.

But history has shown us something important:

The ones who survive major shifts aren’t always the smartest or the most experienced. They’re the ones who embrace change, stay curious, and keep learning.

So here’s the hard truth:

• AI will take some parts of all jobs. That’s a fact.
• AI will force us to rethink what our skills are worth.
• But AI will also create opportunities—if we’re willing to chase them.

This is our Agentic AI moment.

Not in whether AI replaces a task we do today, but in whether we’re willing to evolve with it—and find where humans still bring the most value.

Because trust me—if I never have to sit in a 45-minute customer service queue again, that’s a future I can get behind.