Since OpenAI hit the scene, I've been swinging back and forth between "I need to use this to stay relevant" and "AI is going to take my job someday [profanities]."

And Reader, for the past few weeks, I’ve been down bad about it.

There have been mass layoffs in tech that execs are 'attributing to AI.'

It's made me nervous about what my income might look like two months from now, two years, ten years... What kind of jobs will still be available? Not just for me, but for my daughter when she enters the workforce someday.

And YES, I’ve been listening to The Tortured Poets Department on repeat because it perfectly encapsulates my emotions. Thank you for asking.

But on Monday, I read an article by Rand Fishkin (founder of SparkToro) that took me out of the spiral: “AI Will Replace All the Jobs” Is Just Tech Execs Doing Marketing.

Rand laid out some facts we need reminding of:

• There’s no actual data to support the idea that AI is replacing jobs at scale.
• Historically, every major wave of tech created more jobs than it eliminated.
• The people shouting the loudest about AI ending work as we know it… usually have something to sell.

He explained how AI execs (and even their critics) benefit from this fear-based cycle. It goes like this:

1. A tech exec says something like, “AI is coming for 50% of all jobs.”
2. The media covers it uncritically with dramatic product announcements and updates.
3. Social media LIGHTS UP. We panic-post. We argue. We engage. (I, too, am guilty of this.) And the story spreads.
4. Execs and platforms see huge spikes in traffic and pressure-induced product adoption.
5. The tech bros get richer.

Everyone gets something out of the cycle. Except the rest of us, who just get anxiety.

For many reasons, I trust Rand’s voice in the industry over unchecked media coverage prompted by execs who lie.

The more I zoom out, the more obvious it becomes:

If a rich tech investor had two choices
(1) slow things down and lose money for the good of humanity,
or (2) move fast, break things, and lie sometimes
​
​History has already shown us what they’ll choose.

And at what cost?

Social media already taught us this lesson. We adopted it fast, got addicted, and now we’re living with the side effects: a mental health crisis, a loneliness epidemic, and platforms that value engagement over ethics.

We don’t have to do that again.

I don’t want to be part of the AI hype anymore.

So here’s what I’m doing instead:

1. I won't feed the AI media storm anymore, both on and offline.
2. I’m setting bigger boundaries with AI. I’m still using *some* AI tools in my work as long as it doesn't take away from critical thinking skills, nuance, or my actual human point of view.
3. I’m done using gen AI in any part of my personal life.
4. I’m practicing the AI pause. If a new tool drops, I’m not adopting it just because everyone else is. Especially not out of fear. I’ll test what serves me. I’ll ignore the rest.
5. I’m doubling down on personal brand. Because no matter what the content world looks like five years from now, a strong reputation and clear point of view will still matter. In fact, it'll matter even more. And that’s not something any tool can replicate.

We can approach AI with nuance and boundaries. We can slow down. We can opt out of the exec-led hype.

That’s where I’m at. What about you Reader?

All the best,

Erika (human 😉)

💜 Ps - If you want support building your platform in a way that feels resilient, thoughtful, and not dependent on chasing trends, here are a few ways we can work together:

1. Get personalized feedback with a content audit.
2. Book a 1:1 content clarity call with me.
3. Hire me to write your LinkedIn Content.

Thanks for hanging out! I'm Erika, a content strategist and ghostwriter. When I'm not writing this newsletter, I'm probably listening to music by Dr. Taylor Alison Swift.