I am 36, and graduated into bad-not-this-bad economic conditions. I'm struck by how much of your advice here applied then too (minus the AI). It's now just applicable to much more people.
All very great, and it seems everyone could have a bright future with more flexibility and agency, except perhaps for the 2026 international graduates who want to stay and work in the US. Don't think the old immigration system will catch up with the increasingly volatile world, and it will be painful for people who need a big tech stable job to live in the US or many other places (if it is not already painful enough).
def agree, I have lots of friends in this position and it makes me very sad that they can’t take the risks or have the flexibility that I have, and that the immigration situation is getting worse. in that case I’d stick to the practical things at the end about finding work that grows as AI does — in the industry, robotics, healthcare, etc. (network building and not deskilling yourself is still a good idea!)
So many lovely thoughts here! The old world might be dying, and that is terrifying in a lot of ways. The new world has the potential to be better in certain ways - but only if we make it so!
I mostly strongly resonate with your last main section about how "self-help" is needed more than ever *because* the world is burning. We have to be able to acknowledge systems and how they're hurting us in order to 1) imagine a better way and 2) figure out how to overcome them within our own lives - that's exactly what I like to talk about on here!
my favorite description of our formative math teacher — i credit all the collective “strahhggle” from those middle and high school years to building any backbone and creativity that i have now.
As always, speaking as someone with very little knowledge or experience of all this stuff, and also someone trying *not* to cling to the remnants of the old world with a death-grip (it's hard, but I'm trying), I appreciate your wisdom here, Jasmine.
a delight to read, particularly from the perspective of someone with 2 little kids. i think part of the anxiety around AI is a sense that it will exacerbate the K-shaped economy, and send us to some kind of strange nu-middle-ages. And yet so many are already there. As you say, not everyone can work for google, the missing piece is that that's probably a really good thing... for any number of reasons and from many perspectives
the old world wasn't terrible and your "forecast" of the new world is likely wrong by miles. this is an essay that reads like a poorly written manifesto with limited value to those it "claims" to be helping.
I don't disagree with this advice as self-help advice.
But man, I don't the general public is going to be happy about a world where you have to be entrepreneurial and reinvent yourself every 5 years just to maintain a middle-class income. Security and stability are important psychological needs, especially for people who are older or who have kids.
I know, and I write plenty about the need for policies to prevent or cushion that kind of labor disruption. but it’d feel as dishonest and fatalistic not to also suggest that there are things young people can do to prepare — these are the things I tell real-life friends and mentees
Preparing for the changes is not the same as surrendering, or despair. Those are not alternatives. I am an older man, with three children in their 30s. I am angry about the squandered opportunity to make things better--and to make things right. We have the brains and the resources. But--these are not be used to address what matters--and especially in America right now. Being prepared and looking around corners is healthy. Life should be filled with joy and love and creativity. It is possible.
Inspiring and beautifully written. You say "Physical labor is valuable; cognitive work is cheap." I will humbly suggest a companion argument: live, work, and compete in 3D; AI already rules 2D. One among many examples: do live, not Zoom whenever possible. You make a similar point eloquently several times.
So much of your advice seems to boil down to: remember your humanity. The fact that it was so easy to forget the importance of things we thought were a given is something I continue to mull. What hath Steve Jobs wrought?
This is so great - I love your writing, Jasmine.
I am 36, and graduated into bad-not-this-bad economic conditions. I'm struck by how much of your advice here applied then too (minus the AI). It's now just applicable to much more people.
All very great, and it seems everyone could have a bright future with more flexibility and agency, except perhaps for the 2026 international graduates who want to stay and work in the US. Don't think the old immigration system will catch up with the increasingly volatile world, and it will be painful for people who need a big tech stable job to live in the US or many other places (if it is not already painful enough).
def agree, I have lots of friends in this position and it makes me very sad that they can’t take the risks or have the flexibility that I have, and that the immigration situation is getting worse. in that case I’d stick to the practical things at the end about finding work that grows as AI does — in the industry, robotics, healthcare, etc. (network building and not deskilling yourself is still a good idea!)
(and pray that these areas do not get further national securitized...)
This is absolutely brilliant. I savored every word!
So many lovely thoughts here! The old world might be dying, and that is terrifying in a lot of ways. The new world has the potential to be better in certain ways - but only if we make it so!
I mostly strongly resonate with your last main section about how "self-help" is needed more than ever *because* the world is burning. We have to be able to acknowledge systems and how they're hurting us in order to 1) imagine a better way and 2) figure out how to overcome them within our own lives - that's exactly what I like to talk about on here!
This was such a heartening and insightful read, thank you!
my favorite description of our formative math teacher — i credit all the collective “strahhggle” from those middle and high school years to building any backbone and creativity that i have now.
a great read!
haha long live ms. kol
Culture Slop!!!
The bad news: the old world is dying 😔😱😬
The good news: the old world is dying🥳🙌🍾
frrr
As always, speaking as someone with very little knowledge or experience of all this stuff, and also someone trying *not* to cling to the remnants of the old world with a death-grip (it's hard, but I'm trying), I appreciate your wisdom here, Jasmine.
a delight to read, particularly from the perspective of someone with 2 little kids. i think part of the anxiety around AI is a sense that it will exacerbate the K-shaped economy, and send us to some kind of strange nu-middle-ages. And yet so many are already there. As you say, not everyone can work for google, the missing piece is that that's probably a really good thing... for any number of reasons and from many perspectives
thanks, I’m glad it was valuable!
Truly amazing advice Jasmine! Thank you so much for sharing this!!
the old world wasn't terrible and your "forecast" of the new world is likely wrong by miles. this is an essay that reads like a poorly written manifesto with limited value to those it "claims" to be helping.
I don't disagree with this advice as self-help advice.
But man, I don't the general public is going to be happy about a world where you have to be entrepreneurial and reinvent yourself every 5 years just to maintain a middle-class income. Security and stability are important psychological needs, especially for people who are older or who have kids.
I know, and I write plenty about the need for policies to prevent or cushion that kind of labor disruption. but it’d feel as dishonest and fatalistic not to also suggest that there are things young people can do to prepare — these are the things I tell real-life friends and mentees
Preparing for the changes is not the same as surrendering, or despair. Those are not alternatives. I am an older man, with three children in their 30s. I am angry about the squandered opportunity to make things better--and to make things right. We have the brains and the resources. But--these are not be used to address what matters--and especially in America right now. Being prepared and looking around corners is healthy. Life should be filled with joy and love and creativity. It is possible.
Of course, and I appreciate all the reporting you've done on this issue!
Inspiring and beautifully written. You say "Physical labor is valuable; cognitive work is cheap." I will humbly suggest a companion argument: live, work, and compete in 3D; AI already rules 2D. One among many examples: do live, not Zoom whenever possible. You make a similar point eloquently several times.
So much of your advice seems to boil down to: remember your humanity. The fact that it was so easy to forget the importance of things we thought were a given is something I continue to mull. What hath Steve Jobs wrought?
This is so moving and so helpful,
Especially in the way you give conference examples of things like side doors and actual specific side-door messages. Thank you!