How I’m Preparing for an AI Future We Can’t Predict
- Sarah Tian
- Jul 5
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The future isn’t just arriving — it’s accelerating. Faster than we’re ready for, AI is reshaping how we work, think, connect, and understand ourselves. And if you’ve felt overwhelmed, inspired, anxious, or all of the above — you’re not alone.
After watching Geoffrey Hinton — the so-called “Godfather of AI” — warn that we may have already lost control of the technologies we've built, I didn’t panic. Instead, I asked a quieter, more personal question:
"How do I want to respond — not just as a professional, but as a human?"
These are five things I’ve been doing to stay grounded, relevant, and real in an AI-powered future that none of us can fully predict.
1. Embracing Tools That Amplify, Not Replace
Rather than resisting AI tools, I’ve leaned into using them to work smarter and more collaboratively. I started experimenting with Microsoft Copilot and productivity apps like Loop to streamline workflows, synthesize content, and co-create with colleagues in real time.
What really helped me cross the inertia barrier was volunteering to give a talk on digital dexterity to my team. That one act of service gave me the motivation to go deep into the tools I’d been casually ignoring. Teaching, I’ve realized, is the fastest way to learn.
The goal isn’t just efficiency — it’s agency. I want to stay in the driver’s seat, using AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement.
That’s how I’ve been adjusting on the practical side — but meaning doesn’t just come from tools. It comes from within. That brings me to the next thing I’ve been focusing on...
2. Reconnecting to My Purpose
If AI continues taking over more types of work — and it’s already happening in pockets — then we’ll need to confront a deeper question than just “What do I do for money?”
The real question is:
“What do I do with my time — and how do I make it matter?”
For many of us, work has been our default source of identity and fulfillment. But in a world where machines might outperform us in productivity, reconnecting to your purpose — your why — becomes more important than ever.
For example, I've been reconnecting to my mission to "improve people's well-being." I live that mission daily by focusing on my own well-being to inspire others — going to fitness classes, setting boundaries, and creating space for connection and fun. I’ve also been committing more time to sharing my insights through writing, like this blog.
If you're still figuring out your purpose, check out my post: 5 Ways to Discover Your Purpose.
and 5 Benefits of Finding Your Mission In Life explores why it matters more than ever.
3. Rethinking Priorities — Meaning Over Output
I’ve started questioning how I spend my time, not just in terms of efficiency, but in terms of meaning.
If AI will soon outperform us in many work tasks, then grinding through emails and deliverables just to stay afloat may not be the best use of our finite energy.
Instead, I’ve been carving out space for activities that feel fulfilling and align with my values:
Creating and sharing reflections to inspire others (Values: Impact, Self-Expression, Well-Being)
Expressing myself through painting (Values: Creativity, Beauty, Self-Expression)
Exploring new interests like dancing to my favorite music (Values: Joy, Growth)
Spending more time this way has improved my overall well-being and sense of self. If you’re unsure of your own values, try browsing this list of values or take this values test.
4. Building Resilience Muscles
In an uncertain future, the most valuable trait might not be productivity — but adaptability. When the external world shifts fast, what keeps us grounded is inner resilience: a mindset that helps us respond instead of react.
Here are a few inner muscles I’ve been strengthening:
Curiosity over certainty
When I start spiraling about what might happen — Will my role be automated? Will my skills be relevant next year? — I reframe the thought. Instead of asking, “What if ______ happens?” I ask, “I wonder what will happen?”
This small mental shift moves me from anxiety to wonder. Curiosity invites learning and experimentation, instead of paralysis.
Learning over labeling
In fast-changing times, fixed identities become fragile. I’m letting go of labels like “expert,” “strategist,” or “analyst” and embracing the mindset of a lifelong learner.
That means:
Being okay with beginner moments
Admitting when I don’t know something
Letting go of the pressure to always appear competent
Self-worth beyond performance
This one is the hardest — and the most freeing. I’ve been learning to separate my value from my output. In a world where AI might outperform us in measurable tasks, our worth must come from something deeper.
So I’ve been practicing:
Taking time off without guilt
Letting go of constant optimization
Asking: Who am I when I’m not achieving anything?
These inner shifts have given me more stability than any external achievement. Call it psychological infrastructure — the scaffolding that keeps you grounded when the systems around you change.
5. Staying Informed — Without Being Paralyzed
It’s easy to swing between extremes: naive optimism and total despair. I’m learning to stay aware of developments in AI without letting fear take over.
One video that deeply shaped my thinking was Geoffrey Hinton’s recent talk: Godfather of AI: I Tried to Warn Them, But We’ve Already Lost Control!
He outlines urgent risks that are already happening:
Cyberattacks and deepfakes
Echo chambers and election manipulation
Autonomous weapons and job displacement
Profit-driven development with limited oversight
We may not be able to slow it all down. But we can choose how we respond. I call this informed calm: staying alert, but not anxious.
If fear of AI is something you're currently navigating, I wrote more here: Overcoming the Fear of AI: What We Can All Do Right Now.
Final Thought
I don’t know exactly what the future looks like. No one does — not even the creators of the most advanced models. But I do know this:
I want to stay awake, stay human, and stay useful — in a way no machine can ever fully replace.
So wherever you are on your journey — excited by AI, unsure, overwhelmed, or a mix of all three — I hope you’ll pause and ask:
What kind of human do I want to be in this new world?
And then:
What’s one small thing I can do today to start becoming that?
Like, Comment & Share
Please like this post and leave a comment if you found it helpful and share it with others who may benefit from seeing this!
As always, feel free to reach out to me at jytian188@gmail.com with any questions you have or anything else you'd like help with!
Commenti