Hardly any other technological change has crept into our everyday lives as quickly as artificial intelligence. What was considered a visionary technology of the future yesterday is already a reality today - whether in texting, programming, diagnosing, translating or even creating music, art or legal briefs.
But with this speed comes growing concern: what does this mean for our working world? Which jobs are under threat - and how can we respond individually and socially? In a recent interview, futurologist and strategy researcher Prof. Dr. Pero Mićić warns urgently of the risks of uncontrolled AI dynamics. He speaks of a possible collapse of our current system of work, education and business - faster than many people think.
Which jobs could disappear due to AI - an overview
Artificial intelligence does not replace people as a whole, but rather sub-tasks. However, this can have a massive impact on entire occupational groups.
- Routine work and processing
Professions with a high proportion of rule-based processes - such as in administration, insurance companies, banks or public authorities - are particularly at risk. AI systems can check documents, answer emails, analyze contracts or process applications - around the clock, without vacations or illness. - Call center and customer support
Chatbots, voicebots and AI-supported telephone systems are getting better and better. In many cases, they recognize requests precisely, respond politely and efficiently - often faster than human employees. The classic call center agent could soon become the exception. - Copywriters, translators, editors
GPT models such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini already show how quickly creative tasks can be automated. Although the quality is not yet consistently high everywhere, it is improving rapidly. AI can already keep up with - or even overtake - SEO texts, product descriptions, translations and press releases in particular. - Graphic designers, photographers, video creators
With tools such as Midjourney, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion or Runway AI, images, logos and videos are created at the touch of a button. Entire advertising campaigns can now be designed automatically within a few hours. Stock photo platforms are already reporting massive slumps. - Lawyers and tax consultants
AI can search laws, analyze contracts, identify risks or answer tax law questions. Even if human expertise remains necessary, many standardized processes can already be automated. - Teachers, tutors, coaches
Digital learning systems with AI offer personalized content, analyze weaknesses, adapt to the learning pace - and could therefore replace traditional tutoring or even parts of lessons in the medium term. - Programmers and IT specialists
Here, too, humans as a whole will not be replaced, but many coding tasks will be. AI is already writing stable code, detecting bugs and optimizing existing programs. Junior positions in particular could come under massive pressure.
Studies from OECD case studies: Real impact of AI in companies
An important source are the OECD case studieswhich already show how AI technologies are actually being used in companies and the resulting effects. In around 100 case studies from the manufacturing and financial sectors in eight OECD countries, different implementation strategies, resistance and effects on work processes were analyzed. It was found that AI primarily takes over subtasks, accelerates processes and increases the use of knowledge databases - not necessarily eliminating entire jobs, but restructuring work. At the same time, the studies indicate that employees who were actively involved and trained in the introduction of AI coped better with the change.
Macro forecasts: How many jobs are at risk in the long term?
If you look beyond individual studies, macroeconomic projections and statistics reveal alarming figures - but also differentiated assessments. For example, a summary of various Analyzesthat about 30 % of current US jobs could be automatable by 2030, while 60 % of jobs will be at least partially transformed by AI.
The OECD, in turn, states in one of its assessments that on average around 27 % of jobs in OECD countries are exposed to a high risk of automation. However emphasizes the OECD also that risk is not synonymous with necessary reduction - because many jobs consist of a mix of routine and non-routine components.
Why this is so dangerous: power, control and speed
Prof. Mićić rightly points this out: Technological change is exponential, whereas our social systems are linear. Education, politics and labor markets are not designed to react so quickly. The risk of losing control is real.
- Concentration of powerOnly a few large corporations control the dominant AI models. These companies have almost unlimited computing power, data and capital. Whoever has access to these systems can dictate markets, determine prices and set new standards - without democratic control.
- Social inequalityPeople with a low level of education or without digital skills are the quickest to lose out. Those who learn to work with AI at an early age, on the other hand, benefit disproportionately. There is a threat of a new divide in society - not only between rich and poor, but also between the digitally empowered and the digitally left behind.
- Loss of confidenceIf no one knows for sure whether a text, image, video or judgment comes from a human or an AI - how do we evaluate truth, authority and expertise?
When work disappears - what comes next?
When artificial intelligence rapidly changes entire job profiles or makes them obsolete, fundamental questions arise: What does this mean for millions of employees? For pension systems? For social cohesion?
Politics, business and science are looking for answers worldwide - but so far there is no uniform solution, instead a multitude of competing concepts. The big challenge: the changes are coming faster than the systems can react. In this article, we take a look at the most important models currently being discussed - and what they can (or cannot) achieve.
1. unconditional basic income (UBI): freedom through financial basis?
The unconditional basic income is probably the best-known and most controversially discussed model. It describes a state payment to all citizens - regardless of need, employment status or assets. Put simply, everyone receives a monthly sum of money - without anything in return.
Advantages:
- Security in times of upheaval
- Simplification of bureaucracy (no means test)
- Promoting personal responsibility and creativity
- Enables care, voluntary work, further training or setting up a business without the pressure to exist
Disadvantages / Criticism:
- High government spending (financing unclear)
- Danger of decoupling performance and income
- Possible inflation in the event of improper implementation
- Psychological question: What does it do to a society when work is no longer necessary?
Different characteristics:
- Elon Musk and tech thought leaders often advocate a relatively high basic income (e.g. 1,500-2,000 $) to cushion the loss of many tech jobs.
- In Europe, a more moderate model is often discussed - more as a minimum subsistence level.
- In Germany, the first pilot projects were launched with €1,200 per month - for a limited period and with scientific support.
2. basic income support 2.0: means-tested but less bureaucratic
A less radical approach is the further development of today's social welfare systems. The aim: more dignity, less harassment, faster help, clearer incentives for independence. The idea is modern social benefits:
- digitally,
- unbureaucratically accessible,
- while at the same time promoting education, retraining and entrepreneurship.
This model would be cheaper than a UBI, but would not reach everyone - especially those living just above the means test.
3. negative income tax: tax relief from the bottom up
One concept introduced by economist Milton Friedman, among others, is the so-called negative income tax. In simple terms, anyone with an income below a certain level receives money from the state instead of paying taxes. Above a certain threshold, this support gradually decreases - without any hard cut-off points as in today's Hartz IV or citizen's income system.
Advantages:
- Less stigmatization
- Clear calculation logic
- Can be combined with part-time, mini-job or self-employment
- Less administrative work than current social assistance
Disadvantages:
- Less well known among the population
- Politically difficult to explain
- Assumes trust in functioning financial administration
4. rethinking work: promoting entrepreneurship and micro-projects
While many models are based on the state, other concepts focus on the individual's personal responsibility. Anyone who loses their previous job due to AI could find new paths - as a solopreneur, micro-entrepreneur, coach, artist, consultant or through project work in new digital markets.
This requires:
- Start-up funding that really starts with small ideas - not just start-ups with VC fantasies
- Access to education, tools, markets
- Cultural change: Entrepreneurship must once again be perceived as normal, honorable and socially relevant
After all, not everyone can or wants to be a traditional entrepreneur - but almost everyone has a skill that can be made productive in some way. Especially in a world where platforms and AI simplify many things.
5. education, education, education - but differently
In the long term, change cannot be achieved without radical educational reform. Traditional schools often fail to prepare students for a world in which people have to collaborate with AI systems, constantly reinvent themselves and think critically.
This would be necessary:
- Lifelong education models
- AI-supported, individualized learning systems
- Focus on meta-skills: problem solving, creativity, ethics, self-management
- Practical skills: Self-marketing, digital tools, financial intelligence
In short: less school material, more life skills.
What is important now: strategies for companies and individuals
Instead of becoming paralyzed by fear, we need to act proactively. The question is no longer whether AI is coming, but how we deal with it.
1. for companies: Automate, but with a sense of proportion
- Analysis of own processesWhich activities are repetitive routines? Which decisions still require human intuition?
- Employee trainingNot everyone will be replaced by AI - but almost everyone will have to work with AI. Those who train their employees early on will secure a head start.
- Keep data localif possible, do not use cloud systems for business purposes (GDPR)
- Local AI systems such as Mistral or LLaMA, for example with Ollama or MLX on a Silicon Mac
- New business modelsAI also opens up new markets - from data-based services to AI-optimized products. The change offers opportunities for clever niche providers.
2. for individuals: From consumers to co-creators
- Digital education as a life taskHandling AI should become a basic skill - like reading and writing.
- Becoming aware of your own strengthsCreativity, empathy, ethics, strategy - these skills are not (yet) replaceable.
- Developing resilienceThose who adapt flexibly to new technologies and do not cling to old certainties will remain relevant - even in an AI-dominated world.
Why I also deal with this topic in my book
In my book "Crises as turning points - learn, grow, create" I address precisely such questions:
How can we deal with upheaval with confidence? What strategies help us not to fall into fear or resignation? And how do we succeed? Turning a crisis into a new vision of life to shape?
AI development in particular is a prime example of how technological upheaval can become a personal opportunity. if you are prepared to rethink.
Those who no longer organize their lives according to old rules, but as dynamic projecthas a good chance of not only getting through - but of growing from it.
The next stage begins - and we decide how to shape it
Artificial intelligence is neither a savior nor the work of the devil. It is a tool - powerful, efficient, neutral. It is up to us how we use it. One thing is clear: our education system, our economic structures and our personal thinking habits need to change - faster than ever before.
No single measure will be enough. The challenges posed by AI are too complex. There will probably be a Mixture from several concepts - depending on the country, social structure and political climate.
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Technology cannot be stopped - but it can be shaped.
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Systems have to adapt - but so do people.
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Resilience arises where fear is replaced by action.
Those who prepare early, sharpen their mindset and act strategically can not only survive, but also shape the future. You don't need to panic - but you do need determination, vision and the courage to change.
Frequently asked questions about the future of work in times of artificial intelligence
- Which occupational groups are most at risk from artificial intelligence?
The greatest risks currently exist for professions with a high proportion of standardized, repeatable tasks, such as in administration, customer support, copywriting, accounting, translation, IT development or graphic design. Even legal or medical assistance work can already be partially performed by AI today. The decisive factor is not the job title, but the mix of tasks: the more routine, the higher the risk. - Will millions of jobs really disappear due to AI?
Not all jobs will necessarily disappear, but many subtasks will. This means that a person may not be replaced by AI - but an entire team will be replaced by a single AI-supported specialist. McKinsey, PwC and other consultancies assume that hundreds of thousands of jobs per sector could be affected worldwide - particularly in the service sector, administrative activities and simple IT jobs. - Which jobs are considered "future-proof" despite AI?
Professions with a strong human touch, creative problem-solving or strategic thinking are less at risk - for example in the fields of coaching, consulting, nursing, crafts, education, strategic management, design thinking, moderation and mediation. Highly specialized professionals who work with AI (rather than being replaced by it) are also considered future-proof - e.g. prompt engineers, AI trainers, system architects or ethics officers for AI systems. - Is the unconditional basic income a realistic solution?
It depends on the country, the form of society and the financing. A nationwide, permanent basic income requires enormous state resources and a far-reaching change in the system. Pilot projects show positive effects on mental health, participation in education and innovative strength - but there are also unanswered questions about financing. It is not a panacea, but could be an important building block in an AI-supported economy. - What is the difference between UBI and negative income tax?
With an unconditional basic income (UBI), everyone receives the same amount - regardless of income or need.
With negative income tax, only people below an income threshold receive state subsidies. The more someone earns, the lower the subsidy - until it ceases or becomes a normal tax liability. The concept is considered fairer and more efficient, but is less intuitive to understand. - Why do some experts like Elon Musk advocate a high UBI?
Elon Musk and other tech masterminds believe that massive automation will make many jobs completely redundant. A high basic income (e.g. €2,000 or more) is intended to prevent people from falling into financial hardship if their skills are suddenly no longer needed on the labor market. At the same time, it should create new freedoms to develop creatively, socially or entrepreneurially. - How likely is it that AI will also replace creative professions?
This is already happening to some extent: AI tools create texts, images, videos and music - often in astonishing quality. However, true creativity is not just about output, but also about context, intuition, experience and impact. AI can support or accelerate creative processes, but it cannot replace what makes people unique: the creative will and thinking outside the box. - What role does education play in dealing with AI changes?
A decisive one. But it is not enough to "digitalize" the existing school system. What is needed is a paradigm shift: away from pure memorization and towards creativity, critical thinking, self-direction and lifelong learning. Digital tools (including AI) should help, but not be the goal. Education must enable people to understand, shape and navigate change. - Can entrepreneurship really be a solution to job losses?
Yes - if you think broadly. Today, entrepreneurship no longer necessarily means a limited company, business plan and open-plan office. Solo self-employed people, content creators, service providers, developers, online consultants and project workers are also active as entrepreneurs. AI can take on many tasks so that even one-person companies can achieve professional results - often on a global market level. - What support does modern entrepreneurship need?
Above all:
- Access to capital and tools
- De-bureaucratization
- Fast infrastructure (e.g. internet, digital administration)
- Legal certainty
- Cultural change: Entrepreneurs must no longer be seen as "risk cases" or "tax avoiders" - but as problem solvers, innovators and the backbone of transformation. - How quickly will AI really change the world of work?
Much faster than many expect. While earlier technological upheavals took decades (steam engine, computer, internet), AI applications are spreading worldwide in just a few months. Platforms such as ChatGPT reached millions of users in just a few weeks - something that has never happened before in history. Change is exponential, not linear. - Is there a risk that AI systems in the "wrong hands" will lead to a concentration of power?
This danger is real. Today, a few large corporations (OpenAI, Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft) dominate the development of and access to powerful AI models. Without a political framework and open standards, there is a risk of a monopoly-like shift in power, with economic and social control in the hands of a few tech giants. - What can I do as an individual to avoid being left behind?
Three things:
- Learning how AI works (e.g. through courses, tools, experiments).
- Use AI as a tool - not as an opponent.
- Reflect on your own strengths: What can I do better than an AI? What is my style, my story, my value proposition?
Resilience is not the result of resistance, but of co-creation. - Isn't it an exaggeration to talk about a "system collapse"?
Not necessarily - it is a warning signal. Prof. Dr. Pero Mićić speaks of a possible collapse of our work and education systems because they are designed for slowness, predictability and hierarchy. However, AI is changing markets, requirements and processes in real time. If systems do not keep up, instability arises - in the worst case, a tipping point. - What can politicians do specifically to cushion the impact of change?
- Create a regulatory framework for the use of AI (e.g. transparency obligation, liability, ethics)
- Reform social systems (basic income, negative income tax, education vouchers)
- Strengthening start-up support
- Expanding digital infrastructure
- Making working time models more flexible to facilitate transitions (part-time, project work, hybrid employment) - Where can I find in-depth thoughts on all these topics in book form?
In my book "Crises as turning points - Learning. Grow. Shaping." I am exploring precisely these questions: How can you use a crisis (e.g. losing your job due to AI) as an opportunity to refocus? What practical strategies help to rethink life plans - without getting caught up in fears or old thought patterns? The book combines personal experiences with concrete impulses for action - for people who don't want to be overwhelmed by the future, but want to actively help shape it.