10 ways to avoid being replaced by AI

For a long time, people consoled themselves with the saying: "AI won't take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI might." This meant that if you learned how to use AI, you wouldn't lose your job, or you might even take someone else's.

Unfortunately, that way of thinking is now outdated. AI no longer takes a roundabout route around humans.

AI comes directly to you and silently and thoroughly replaces parts of your work, one by one. It schedules meetings, writes reports, sends personalized emails, makes decisions... it can even send a "digital copy" of you to online meetings without anyone noticing.

Before long, these "automated AI agents" will be able to handle entire workflows without human intervention.

The truth is, AI will definitely automate many parts of the work you're doing. The question is, do you know how to adapt and thrive?

The more you use AI, the easier it is to be replaced.

It sounds paradoxical, but you need to remember this: The more you leverage AI to increase efficiency, the more vulnerable you become to being replaced by it. It's like becoming completely dependent on Google Maps and then forgetting directions, or giving up on remembering because "my phone does it all."

In an era where AI takes over the majority of intellectual labor, we face the risk of becoming so "lazy to think" that our brains shrink. Professor Scott Galloway once called AI "Ozempic for businesses"—a drug that suppresses the need to think, even though the output remains sharp.

Our ancestors didn't need gyms to stay fit because survival provided enough exercise. Now, perhaps we'll need "brain gyms" to avoid having artificial intelligence do everything for us.

If you're only judged by the speed and accuracy of your work, congratulations, you've become an easy "model" for automation. But that doesn't mean you should stop using AI. On the contrary, use AI wisely and, most importantly, reinvest the time it saves you.

The problem is that most businesses still don't know what to do with the enormous amount of time that AI brings. A survey by Deloitte found that 94% of leaders believe AI will change the way work is done. But only 17% have a concrete plan to implement that change.

This is a golden opportunity; you don't need to wait for your boss's instructions. You can proactively redefine your work starting today.

10 cách để không bị AI thay thế - 1 — AI is no longer just an "assistant" to help with work; it's now directly doing things for you, from scheduling meetings and writing reports to answering emails and making decisions (Illustration: FIU).

Here are 10 ways to avoid being "kicked out of your desk" by AI:

Use AI to save time, then reinvest it in more human-centric tasks.

Instead of dealing with tedious tasks, spend your time building customer relationships, mentoring colleagues, or solving problems that require empathy and sound judgment.

Bridge the gap between technology and people: Be the "interpreter" between the engineering team and other departments. AI is still very poor at sensing emotions, humor, or understanding unspoken meanings.

Combine skills in a unique way: Become a "multitasker with a focus," knowledgeable in many fields while also possessing deep expertise in a few irreplaceable areas.

Don't let yourself be predictable: Repetitive tasks are easily automated. Create variety, be flexible, experiment with new things, switch fields, and do things that AI hasn't yet modeled.

Developing emotional intelligence: Empathy, persuasion, adaptation, conflict resolution… these are very "human" abilities that AI has not yet been able to learn.

Gain in-depth knowledge in "hard-to-swallow" areas: Focus on fields that require real-world context and experience, areas where AI is still struggling.

Build your personal brand: Write, speak, and share your perspective. Having a name for yourself gives you a much higher chance of being retained than being replaced by software.

Master AI tools in your field: Don't confront AI, be an advocate for AI. Those who understand the tools are less likely to be replaced by them.

Becoming a link in the human-machine chain: AI still needs human supervision, editing, and verification. Human-based assessments are becoming increasingly valuable.

Always be curious and flexible: See this era not just as a "technological revolution," but as a "revolution in thinking." The ability to relearn and forget what is old will be more important than any fixed skill.

Adapt or be eliminated

You can't stand still. You can't just "sit still and watch." The "dodo" strategy, essentially staying put and hoping the AI will ignore you, once drove that species to extinction. And it won't save you from being replaced either.

You need to "evolve" faster than the digital environment. View AI as a supporting tool, but don't forget to cultivate qualities that AI cannot learn. Become a creative, flexible, and unpredictable version of yourself; otherwise, you will be outpaced by the very things you used to boost your productivity.

So where do you stand on the career map? The answer lies somewhere between two extremes: irreplaceable and obsolete. The question is, what do you choose to do next?

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