Adam Dorr, Research Director at RethinkX, suggests that generative AI might render most human jobs obsolete, with only a few specific roles likely to withstand this technological revolution. According to Dorr, roles such as sports coaches, politicians, sex workers, and ethicists may survive due to their unique demands and human touch.
Dorr’s perspective highlights the potential for a dramatic shift in the job market, driven by the decreasing costs of labour brought on by AI advancements.
This raises crucial questions about how society will adapt to such changes and what new opportunities might arise as traditional job categories transform or disappear.
Historically, technological advancements have led to significant shifts in employment patterns. The Industrial Revolution, for example, saw many manual tasks automated, leading to a reorganisation of labour and the emergence of new professions.
Similarly, the digital age has reshaped numerous industries, creating roles that were previously unimaginable. Generative AI, with its ability to generate content, analyse data, and mimic human tasks, represents the next frontier in this ongoing evolution.
If generative AI continues its current trajectory, one possible outcome could be a broader redefinition of productivity and value creation. Rather than tying worth to traditional employment, societies may need to explore models like universal basic income (UBI) to support populations in a post-work economy.
Such models, though still debated, have garnered renewed interest as automation threatens to decouple income from labour.
Countries like Finland and pilot projects in the US have tested these schemes, hinting at how policy might evolve in response to mass technological displacement.
The psychological and cultural implications of widespread job obsolescence also warrant serious consideration. Work has long been central to identity and social structure; its reduction could lead to profound shifts in how people perceive purpose and community.
This might stimulate growth in sectors tied to creativity, personal development, and human connection – areas where authenticity and nuance are paramount. As AI handles more of the functional and repetitive tasks, there could be a renaissance in human-centric pursuits, reshaping education, leisure, and interpersonal engagement.
Key Insights and Data
- AI’s Trajectory:
Generative AI is rapidly advancing, allowing machines to generate content, code, artwork, and even make complex decisions. Recent benchmarks show AI matching or outperforming humans in diverse cognitive tasks, intensifying concerns about widespread job displacement. - Dorr’s “End of Most Jobs” Thesis:
- Dorr contends that jobs requiring emotional intelligence, physical presence, negotiation, or genuine human connection—such as coaching, politics, sex work, and ethics—are least likely to be automated.
- He predicts that as generative AI advances, the cost of providing labour-intensive services will plummet, making human employment largely unnecessary except in edge-case professions.
- Evidence of Rapid Automation:
- McKinsey’s report indicates that by 2030, up to 30% of hours worked globally could be automated; high-agency, creative, and interpersonal roles remain relatively safer.
- OpenAI estimates that 80% of US jobs could see at least 10% of tasks impacted by large language models.
Societal Adaptation and Economic Shifts
- Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a Solution:
- UBI is gaining traction in policy circles as a way to decouple income from traditional employment. Notable pilot programmes in Finland and the US have shown mixed but promising results in supporting well-being and economic activity during periods of automation-induced disruption.
- Historical Parallels:
- Past revolutions, such as the Industrial and Digital ages, displaced entire job categories while giving rise to new professions and economic sectors. Generative AI is expected to be similarly transformative, with the potential difference being the unprecedented scope and speed.
Cultural and Psychological Implications
- Redefining Work and Purpose:
The decline of traditional employment could challenge deeply held notions about identity, social status, and purpose. Work has long been a central organising principle for individuals and societies. - Growth of Human-Centric Sectors:
As AI takes over routine and information-based roles, growth is anticipated in areas requiring creativity, emotional intelligence, and authentic human connection—including the arts, personal development, care, and leisure sectors.
Roles Resistant to Generative AI Automation
| Role Type | Human Elements That Resist Automation | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional/Life Skills | Deep empathy, lived experience | Coaches, therapists |
| Social/Political | Persuasion, negotiation, representation | Politicians, diplomats |
| Intimacy/Connection | Physical presence, personal authenticity | Sex workers, companions |
| Ethical/Judgement | Moral reasoning, societal consensus | Ethicists, judges |
Looking Forward
- Societies may need to pivot toward alternative models for economic distribution and meaning-making, such as UBI, lifelong learning, and fostering community engagement.
- Policy experiments, ethical debates, and cultural shifts will be essential as generative AI continues to disrupt traditional employment paradigms.
References
- RethinkX: “The End of Most Jobs?” by Adam Dorr (May 2023)
- Business Insider: “Most jobs will be obsolete as AI changes society, says researcher” (May 2023)
- McKinsey Global Institute: “Generative AI and the future of work” (June 2023)
- Vox: “Universal Basic Income experiments around the world” (2022)
- OECD: “Universal Basic Income: Recent International Experiences” (2021)