> AI’s workplace impact, including its potential to help careers, remains more the subject of economics papers than hard evidence. But young people, especially those just launching into long working lives ahead of them, are starting to navigate their future career choices with AI in mind.
> Some are pivoting to blue-collar work or starting their own businesses that may insulate them from the impacts of AI. Others are actively embracing it to try to take advantage of an AI boom and stay ahead of the curve.
> “Students definitely know it’s going to have an impact, it’s just not clear how much of one or what it looks like,” said Stacie Gleason, a Hoboken, N.J.-based high school counselor. She said she has daily conversations with seniors who are wondering how AI might affect them.
> A recent Harvard survey of Americans between ages 18 and 29 showed that 59% said they saw AI as a threat to their job prospects, with college graduates in particular sharing such concerns. A further 41% said they thought that AI would make work less meaningful.
> Stanford University research, meanwhile, found that between late 2022 and September 2025, employment among workers ages 22 to 25 who are highly exposed to AI—such as software developers and customer service agents—declined 16% relative to less-exposed occupations.
> When Ryder Paredes, 22, began studying computer science as an undergraduate three years ago, “AI was in its infancy, it wasn’t very intelligent,” the Montclair, N.J., native said. But by last year, AI’s abilities had improved so much Paredes feared he wouldn’t be employable.
> He dropped out of college last year and is now in trade school studying to be an electrician. He isn’t alone: Enrollment at vocational-focused community colleges has boomed in recent years, growing by nearly 20% since 2020, according to National Student Clearinghouse data.
> “It’s been a lot of dinner table anxiety,” said Babith Bhoopalan, who worked for Microsoft in product management and customer experience before founding his own consulting company. To help his 17-year-old daughter, he compiled a career guide analyzing what professional roles couldn’t be replicated by AI—doctors and diplomats were among the safe fields. He shared the guide online, where it has since been viewed by more than 5,500 people.
> Other analysis has likewise found that in-person work tends to be more insulated. A recent study by AI company Anthropic, for example, showed that agriculture and construction jobs are less likely to be performed by AI, while jobs such as computer programmers and customer service reps are more vulnerable. A Microsoft analysis last year drew similar conclusions.
tyygya on
Bicycle, tents, waterfilters and farming, not being sarcastic. Honestly i personally can’t keep up with the pace of monumental changes. Changes that usually took decades to materialize now seem to happen every month!
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> AI’s workplace impact, including its potential to help careers, remains more the subject of economics papers than hard evidence. But young people, especially those just launching into long working lives ahead of them, are starting to navigate their future career choices with AI in mind.
> Some are pivoting to blue-collar work or starting their own businesses that may insulate them from the impacts of AI. Others are actively embracing it to try to take advantage of an AI boom and stay ahead of the curve.
> “Students definitely know it’s going to have an impact, it’s just not clear how much of one or what it looks like,” said Stacie Gleason, a Hoboken, N.J.-based high school counselor. She said she has daily conversations with seniors who are wondering how AI might affect them.
> A recent Harvard survey of Americans between ages 18 and 29 showed that 59% said they saw AI as a threat to their job prospects, with college graduates in particular sharing such concerns. A further 41% said they thought that AI would make work less meaningful.
> Stanford University research, meanwhile, found that between late 2022 and September 2025, employment among workers ages 22 to 25 who are highly exposed to AI—such as software developers and customer service agents—declined 16% relative to less-exposed occupations.
> When Ryder Paredes, 22, began studying computer science as an undergraduate three years ago, “AI was in its infancy, it wasn’t very intelligent,” the Montclair, N.J., native said. But by last year, AI’s abilities had improved so much Paredes feared he wouldn’t be employable.
> He dropped out of college last year and is now in trade school studying to be an electrician. He isn’t alone: Enrollment at vocational-focused community colleges has boomed in recent years, growing by nearly 20% since 2020, according to National Student Clearinghouse data.
> “It’s been a lot of dinner table anxiety,” said Babith Bhoopalan, who worked for Microsoft in product management and customer experience before founding his own consulting company. To help his 17-year-old daughter, he compiled a career guide analyzing what professional roles couldn’t be replicated by AI—doctors and diplomats were among the safe fields. He shared the guide online, where it has since been viewed by more than 5,500 people.
> Other analysis has likewise found that in-person work tends to be more insulated. A recent study by AI company Anthropic, for example, showed that agriculture and construction jobs are less likely to be performed by AI, while jobs such as computer programmers and customer service reps are more vulnerable. A Microsoft analysis last year drew similar conclusions.
Bicycle, tents, waterfilters and farming, not being sarcastic. Honestly i personally can’t keep up with the pace of monumental changes. Changes that usually took decades to materialize now seem to happen every month!