Loss of Relevance

The loss of relevance is a complicated process involving a somewhat complex interaction between what you do well, the value you put on that skill or ability, and the value society puts on that skill or ability.

When I say that relevance is defined by society, it falls into a concept akin to self-esteem. Self-esteem is measured by how good you are at something you value. The value society puts on a skill or ability (external validation) is determined by the society you value – something I’ll pick up later.

Self-relevance is a combination of self-esteem and external validation.

Personal values are defined by the individualized hierarchy of our communities of practice. Career/employment is usually very near the top of our various communities of practice.

For example, because of my years of teaching stats and RM, I am very good at recognizing patterns in data sets—even quite big ones. However, I don’t see that as a big deal because I don’t place a lot of value on the ability. That community of practice is not one that I choose to develop a close relationship with. I don't have any interest in it. It is the same with driving. Just because I can back a semi-trailer up to a loading dock and pull out without damaging anything doesn’t mean much to me because I don’t really value that skill set. The community that values driving prowess is not a community that I share much affinity with, and I have no interest in developing that affinity (much to the disappointment of my father).

There are also some areas I value that I’m not that great at - like playing the piano. In that case, my self-esteem is lowered.

External validation is how much society values the same skills or abilities that build self-esteem. Just because you are good at something that you value doesn’t mean that there is external validation. I might value my prowess on the basketball court (I don't have any), but my circumstances (older, semi-retired prof) mean that society doesn’t care about my court skills. My external validation might be very high because of my court skills – if the society I Identify closely with values these abilities (my Thursday night court club).

Career self-relevance is a product of both how we feel about ourselves – self-esteem, and the level of our external validation, in the way of monetary reward, for something society values. Self-relevance is vital for psychological well-being, because...

In our culture, our career/job is usually a central aspect of both self-esteem and external validation. The more time and energy you put into developing your career, the more your career comes to define you. The more your career defines you, the more your self-esteem and external validation depend on your career development and success.

Why is this important within the context of our current societal upheaval caused by AI?

AI is ruthless. AI agents deployed to streamline efficiencies and strengthen an organization has no feelings. It has no loyalty – except to internal algorithms and authorized instructions. If you are found to be redundant to the needs of the organization, you will be made redundant. There will be no appeals, no plea bargaining, and no crying in the HR officer’s office. You will be made redundant – along with everyone redundant to an organization. This idea that we can't let an AI agent determine our job performance has become a rallying point for those who are highlighting the dangers of AI. But is anyone going to interfere with a company reorganization where the potential efficiency gains are guided by AI?

Does this mean that an AI agent will be doing your job? Maybe, or even likely. However, the most likely scenario is that your division (or whatever) will be considered surplus to requirements in a streamlined organization and you, along with all your close colleagues, will find yourselves on the outside looking in.

A few of the “stand-out” employees might be transferred to another division, but something will have to make them stand out. Being a nice person won’t be enough anymore. Being great at the job AI has determined is surplus to requirements is not the kind of stand out that will matter. Those are not among the criteria the agent will be instructed to consider.

So, what are the stand-out qualities? I know what I would bet on. The ability to think – abstract cognitive enablers (ACEs). Regardless of what some of the experts are saying, I still believe that this will be the defining factor for “humanness”. You must ask yourself if you have what it takes. Have you developed your ACEs to a level sufficient to stand-out? At the end of the day, if you don’t value these skills, you won’t expend energy to develop them. No big deal for your self-esteem. However, as we enter this time of turmoil, external validation might put these skills at the top of the heap (that’s what I believe) and those who have them, and value them, will find their self-relevance climb.