Imagine being told by a tech leader that your job might not count as a “real job” if artificial intelligence could easily replace it. Ouch—right in the professional pride! But beneath the eyebrow-raising headline lies a much more nuanced conversation about the future of work, the humanity in what we do, and what comes next as AI changes everything from the ground up.
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When Is a Job Truly “Real”?
During the recent OpenAI DevDay, Sam Altman waded into the ever-choppy waters of AI’s impact on employment. In a discussion with Rowan Cheung, Altman implied—somewhat provocatively—that if AI could wipe out your profession, maybe it was never a “real” job to begin with. Not sure whether to laugh, cry, or clutch your desk? You’re not alone.
Altman illustrated his point with a quick trip to the farm. He mused that if you could travel back fifty years and tell a working farmer that a “magical invention” called the Internet would spawn a billion new jobs, that farmer probably wouldn’t have believed you. Why? Because, from that salt-of-the-earth perspective, a “real” job is something as tangible and necessary as growing food or producing goods you can actually touch. The modern world’s galaxy of careers—from marketing strategists to social media gurus—might seem a bit… ephemeral in comparison.
Tenuous Arguments and Human Necessity
Now, let’s be fair: Altman’s argument has a wobbly leg (or two) to stand on. Maybe what he really meant is that many modern jobs aren’t strictly vital for human survival—they’re not feeding the world or forging steel. But, as he clarified, this isn’t necessarily a final verdict on today’s workforce. Rather, he sees the arrival of AI as a phase to navigate, not an extinction-level event.
The underlying message: job disruption is nothing new, even if the pace and scale feel terrifying right now. Fifty years ago, no one could have imagined the current digital economy, just as it’s tough for us to picture the job landscape that AI might eventually create—even as it displaces up to a billion people in the process. Yet, Altman insists, after this phase of upheaval, new opportunities will emerge just as they always have. Feel free to exhale—but maybe just a little.
Data or Drama? What the Studies Say
If you’re still not sleeping soundly, you’re in good company. A recent Indeed study dug into nearly 3,000 skillsets across more than 53 million job postings from May 2024 to April 2025, shining some light (and shadow) on the potential transformation ahead. The findings:
- 26% of jobs will be strongly impacted by AI,
- 54% will experience moderate impact, and
- Only 20% of roles remain lightly exposed (that’s right, the lucky top fifth—time to make friends in those professions).
But—and it’s a big “but”—the study doesn’t sound the death knell for most careers. The real story is transformation, fueled by large-scale automation, not wide-scale elimination. We’re talking about jobs evolving, adapting, becoming hybrid creatures blending human creativity with machine efficiency. Sure, the titles may change. The daily tasks might not look the same. But, fundamentally, the need for people doesn’t disappear—it just morphs.
From Farmer’s Field to Digital Frontier: What Now?
So, does AI mean your job was never real? Altman’s argument, while tongue-in-cheek and possibly ill-timed, does shine a light on how humanity’s relationship with work keeps shifting. Fifty years ago, a farmer couldn’t conjure up today’s tech jobs with any amount of imagination. And now, as we face the tidal wave of AI, we’re probably just as blind to the careers of tomorrow.
If there’s a takeaway (besides updating your résumé): the definition of “real work” is always up for grabs, changing with culture, technology, and need. The robots might be coming, but that doesn’t erase the value in what you do—it just means tomorrow you may be doing something dazzlingly different (and maybe explaining to your grandkids what a social media manager actually did, back in the day).
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Keep learning, stay nimble, and maybe—this time—it’ll be you telling the next wild story about how the great AI revolution opened the door to a billion brand-new ways to work.
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Jordan Park writes in-depth reviews and editorial opinion pieces for Touch Reviews. With a background in UI/UX design, Jordan offers a unique perspective on device usability and user experience across smartphones, tablets, and mobile software.