How to Thrive in the AI-Driven Future (and not lose your job)

A company just slashed 400 jobs… all because their internal AI team determined that it would be the right move from a cost-savings standpoint.

It seems a bit dystopian, but I think this is likely what's going to happen in the coming years.

I’ve spoken with several founders who are already thinking about doing the same. If this trend catches on, it’ll be tough for employees to stay secure without the right skillset.

So how do you defend against this if you're working for a company?

How do you stay relevant?

By being a top .1% learner.

The top 1% isn’t enough anymore. If you’re not actively using AI to create and innovate, you’re already falling behind.

If you're constantly leveraging the new hotness in AI such as AI coding editors, AI agents like ManusAI, MCPs, and more, you're in the top .1%.

Being in the top .1% means you're not just reading stuff and talking to people, it means you're actively DOING.

The best way to TRULY learn something is through doing.

Doing looks like:
- Building business dashboards by uploading your financials
- Uploading your bloodwork and trying to drive more insights from it
- Having agents scan your blog and write new high-intent content that will drive more traffic and conversions
- Working with AI to brainstorm viral YouTube headlines and thumbnail packaging

It is only through doing that you'll build the scar tissue of experience that sets you apart.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked people what they’re doing with AI during our hiring process.

I'll ask, "What are you doing with AI in your current role?" and almost without fail, the response is something like, "Oh, I love ChatGPT!"

That's nice to hear, but it’s not enough. I want to know more..."What specifically are you using it for? What have you built with it? How has it impacted your work?"

And that’s when the answers get murky. People are quick to jump on the bandwagon but aren’t doing much beyond chatting with a bot. That shows me they don’t fully understand how to use these tools to create real value.

Without action, AI is just a buzzword. But with real hands-on experience, you'll build the expertise that sets you apart from everyone else who’s still just talking about it.

If you want to stay relevant and future-proof your career, you need to be in the trenches, doing the work.

If your company isn’t leveraging AI, you’re falling behind. Businesses that adopt it now—to streamline processes, improve decision-making, or run smarter campaigns—are the ones leading the charge.

My agency Single Grain specializes in integrating AI strategies to drive results. If you're ready to elevate your business with AI, reach out to us.

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Eric Siu