PAIN IN THE A...I... : My Thoughts on Jobs, Futures and Our Children

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future- not just mine but everyone’s. AI is everywhere now. It’s in our emails, our news feeds, even the apps we use to plan our day. At first, it felt exciting, like living in a sci-fi movie where anything is possible. But excitement quickly gave way to a quiet, nagging worry: What does this mean for me? For my job? For the children growing up in this world?

I remember sitting at my kitchen table one night, scrolling through an article about AI replacing certain jobs. I felt that familiar knot in my stomach- the one that comes when you realise that the rules you’ve relied on your whole life are shifting beneath your feet. I thought about the skills I’ve built, the hard work I’ve put in and suddenly questioned how “safe” any of it really is. It’s not laziness or fear of change- it’s a deep uncertainty that creeps in when the future feels unpredictable.

And then I thought about my kids. What will the world look like for them? Will they grow up in a society where the rules of work, success and creativity are dictated by algorithms? How do you guide a child toward their dreams when even the paths to those dreams are constantly evolving? It’s a weight that many parents carry silently, worrying about preparing their children for a world that none of us fully understand yet.

But amid the uncertainty, there’s also a sense of clarity. AI may change what we do, but it can’t replace who we are. Creativity, empathy, curiosity- these are human traits no algorithm can replicate. What I’ve realised is that instead of resisting AI, we can focus on growing the parts of ourselves that machines can’t touch. We can lean into connection, learning and reflection.

I’ve also learned to give myself grace. Feeling anxious about the future doesn’t make you weak- it makes you human. Talking about it, writing about it and sharing these thoughts helps lift some of the weight off my shoulders.

So, yes, AI is reshaping our lives in ways we’re only beginning to understand. But it also invites us to pause, reflect and ask ourselves the bigger questions: What kind of life do I want to lead? What lessons do I want to pass on? How can I stay human in a world full of machines?

Maybe the future is uncertain. Maybe it’s heavy. But acknowledging that heaviness- and leaning into it with honesty and care is the first step toward navigating it with intention.

Stuart