AI Stole My Job: The Jobs That AI Will Take From You

One morning, you wake up to find that the job you've dedicated years to mastering has been rendered obsolete—not by a person, but by a machine. Sounds like a dystopian sci-fi plot, right? Yet, it’s the reality many are already living. AI is not only reshaping how we work but also deciding who works. This is not a far-fetched imagination. I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Nairobi in December 2024, with a hope to practice law in tech, however, I am not naive of the fact that various legal jobs may be taken by AI in the future.

I’m not here to scare you, but to prepare you. The truth is, AI will take some jobs. Various organizations including IMF and WEF, have weighed in on how AI will disrupt the job market, I recommend you read their reports. Some of us might feel the impact sooner than others, depending on what we do. But here’s the twist: if you adapt, you can thrive in the AI era. Let me walk you through the jobs AI is most likely to replace and how you can stay ahead of the curve.

Jobs AI Is Taking Over

1. Customer Service If you’ve interacted with a chatbot recently, you’ve already met the replacement for many customer service representatives. Companies like OpenAI, with tools such as ChatGPT, and IBM Watson are powering bots that respond faster, more accurately, and cheaper than human agents. In Kenya, for example, Safaricom’s AI-powered chatbot, Zuri, handles customer queries from bill payments to troubleshooting—tasks once done by humans.

2. Administrative and Clerical Work Administrative assistants and data entry clerks are seeing their roles automated by tools like Microsoft’s Copilot or Notion AI. In Nigeria, many companies have adopted tools that streamline invoicing, scheduling, and even email drafting, drastically reducing the need for human input.

3. Retail Cashiers Amazon Go stores in the U.S. are a perfect example. No cashiers, no queues—just sensors, cameras, and AI doing the heavy lifting. Similarly, in South Africa, Shoprite’s automated checkout kiosks are taking over roles traditionally filled by cashiers.

4. Content Creation Yes, even the creative field isn’t safe. AI tools like DALL·E (for images) and Jasper (for written content) are creating blog posts, social media content, and marketing copy. I know what you’re thinking: “AI can’t be as creative as humans.” That’s partly true, but for standardized or repetitive content, many companies are turning to AI for speed and cost savings.

5. Transportation and Delivery Self-driving technology is on the rise. In the U.S., Tesla’s autonomous vehicles are transforming the trucking industry. Meanwhile, in Ghana, Jumia is exploring AI-driven delivery drones to streamline e-commerce logistics, potentially displacing delivery drivers.

6. Medical Diagnostics AI systems like IBM Watson Health and Zebra Medical Vision can analyze scans, identify diseases, and provide diagnoses faster and more accurately than many human doctors. This is a game-changer in under-resourced areas of Africa, where skilled radiologists are in short supply, but it also signals fewer job openings for radiologists and lab technicians.

What Can You Do?

Before you panic, remember this: AI might take some jobs, but it’s also creating entirely new roles. The key is to adapt.

1. Upskill Yourself Learn to work with AI rather than compete against it. For instance, if you’re in customer service, specialize in managing and training AI systems. If you’re a writer, become an AI-assisted content strategist.

2. Explore Human-Centric Roles AI struggles with empathy, creativity, and critical thinking—skills that humans excel at. Jobs in counseling, creative arts, strategy, and leadership are less likely to be replaced.

3. Dive into Tech AI will always need people to design, program, and maintain it. From data scientists to AI ethicists, there’s a wealth of opportunities in tech. In Rwanda, for example, Andela is training developers to fill roles in AI and machine learning projects across Africa.

4. Stay Curious AI evolves fast. Keep an eye on trends, attend webinars, and never stop learning. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses to help you stay ahead.

Actually...

AI isn’t “stealing” jobs—it’s reshaping the workforce. The real question isn’t whether AI will replace you, but whether you’re prepared to reinvent yourself. Jobs will disappear, yes, but others will emerge, creating opportunities for those who are ready to embrace change.

So, what’s the verdict? Will you let AI make you obsolete, or will you use it as a tool to build a better future for yourself? The choice is yours.

Let me know your thoughts—has AI already started to impact your job or industry? Let’s discuss in the comments. Learn more from Courselana courses.

AUTHOR'S DECLARATION: I leverage AI for research and initial drafting of the key points in this article. I decide on the article's topic, create an appropriate prompt, and then use GPT-4 to search the web to generate relevant points for the article. However, to create the final article, I put together the points, add personal context, and edit to ensure it's beneficial to my audience, and so that it's NOT 100% AI-generated.