AI does not take away jobs. It takes away the illusion of competence.

The fear of losing one’s job very often comes up in conversations about artificial intelligence.
That AI will “replace humans.”

That he will “take back the competition.”
That it will “put people out of business.”

This is a simplification.
AI does not eliminate work per se.
It eliminates something else – the illusion of competence, which for years was sufficient.

Apparent competence as a foundation for multiple roles

In many areas of work it was previously enough:
– to repeat known patterns,
– to use specialized language,
– to have access to information,
– to hold a certain position in the hierarchy.

It was not always about real understanding.
Often the impression of competence was enough.

AI exposes this mechanism very quickly.

When access to knowledge is no longer an advantage

Artificial intelligence democratizes access to:
– information,
– analysis,
– language,
– conceptual tools.

This means that knowledge alone ceases to be capital.
So does a mere title, position or experience without reflection.

Not because knowledge loses value.
But because it is becoming commonplace.

What’s really disappearing from the market

AI does not eliminate people.
It eliminates roles based solely on:
– repetition,
– schema,
– lack of decision-making responsibility,
– hiding lack of understanding behind language.

It’s a painful process, because it touches professional identity.
But it’s not an unfair process.

What’s gaining traction

In a world supported by AI, the importance of:
– critical thinking,
– understanding context,
– ability to ask the right questions,
– responsibility for decisions,
– combining knowledge with experience – is growing.

AI performs tasks very well.
However, it cannot take responsibility for making sense of them.

The work does not disappear. What changes is its nature.

What is happening today is not the end of work.
It is the end of apparent work.

The comfort of being “enough” disappears.
There is an emerging need to be realistically competent.

For some, it’s a threat.
For others, it’s a release from fiction.

Summary

AI doesn’t take away jobs.
It takes away the illusion that just being in the system is enough.

Those who understand what they are doing and why – gain.
Those who relied solely on form – are losing ground.

It’s not a technological revolution.
It’s a correction of reality.