AI & Technology
AI's Secret to Making You Indispensable at Work
By 2025, AI will displace 80 million jobs worldwide, but one group will thrive, not just survive.
2026-06-051 min read
While AI promises to augment human capabilities, a study by McKinsey found that 87% of executives believe AI will significantly change their workforce by 2030. This is not just a matter of replacing routine tasks but also of creating new workflows and value chains. A common mistake professionals make is to focus solely on automating tasks, rather than understanding how AI is reshaping entire industries and business models. Companies like Amazon and Netflix have successfully integrated AI into their workflows, but to do so, they had to fundamentally change their organizational structures and skill sets. As a result, these companies have created new jobs and revenue streams that don't exist in other industries.
Key insights
To become indispensable at work, you need to understand how AI is reshaping entire industries and business models.
Focusing solely on automating tasks can lead to missed opportunities for growth and innovation.
Companies that successfully integrate AI into their workflows often create new jobs and revenue streams that don't exist in other industries.
To make the most of AI, you need to be able to identify new opportunities and value chains that emerge from its adoption.
Why it matters
By adopting AI workflows that create new value chains and jobs, you'll become more valuable and promotable, as you'll be able to contribute to the company's growth and innovation.
This new understanding will help you make better decisions when evaluating opportunities or projects that involve integrating AI into your workflow.
Most peers miss the fact that AI isn't just about automating tasks, but also about creating new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Use this tomorrow
1In your next meeting with your manager, ask: "How can we use AI to create new value streams and revenue opportunities for the company?"
2When evaluating a project or opportunity that involves integrating AI, consider the potential new jobs, skills, and value chains it could create.
3When faced with a team or department that's resistant to change, escalate the conversation to discuss how AI can help them identify new opportunities and revenue streams.
Go deeper
In 2020, a report by the World Economic Forum estimated that by 2025, 85 million jobs could be displaced due to automation, but 97 million new roles would emerge that require new skills.
The concept of AI-driven growth and innovation is not unique to the corporate world; it's also been adopted in social welfare programs, such as the AI-powered welfare system in Finland, which has been successful in reducing poverty and unemployment.