Discussion | The Last Generation of Useful Humans

The End of an Era: Are We Witnessing the Last Generation of Truly Useful Humans?

The future of work is no longer approaching—it has arrived. And it came knocking loudly, handing us the keys to an unprecedented shift.

Artificial Intelligence, particularly large language models, has transitioned from experimental tech to a functional, disruptive force in the workforce. This isn’t a distant possibility; it’s happening right now. From software developers and content creators to analysts and knowledge workers, entire industries are being transformed. Tasks once performed by humans are now being handled through prompts, algorithms, and fine-tuned datasets. The ripple effects extend beyond tech—legal firms, financial institutions, and healthcare support services are all feeling the heat as their skilled labor is condensed into data points and automated solutions.

Recent benchmarks for models like GPT-5 underscore a stark reality: the pace of AI advancement isn’t slowing—it’s intensifying at an exponential rate. Under current policies and corporate agendas, the drive to automate and replace human jobs accelerates unabated, with minimal public discussion, safety measures, or regulatory oversight. Meanwhile, corporations are reducing their workforces while raking in record-breaking profits, and policymakers often appear disengaged or complicit as societal bonds strain under the weight of technological change.

The pursuit of AI dominance has often overshadowed ethical considerations. Leading tech giants—including OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Twitter—have seen their focus shift from safety and responsibility to competition and market power. In 2023, Microsoft notably disbanded its dedicated ethics and society team amid layoffs affecting thousands, claiming publicly that responsible AI development remains a priority. Behind closed doors, however, the gears are turning faster than ever, with safety precautions swept aside in favor of speed and market share.

Even the engineers and researchers behind these cutting-edge systems are aware of the implications. Many are being generously compensated—sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars—not because their expertise will be needed long-term, but because they are building the very tools that could render human labor obsolete. Once AI systems become capable of self-improvement, the cycle of opportunity for these specialists will come to an end. The rest of us, left without safety nets or clear pathways, face an uncertain future, disconnected from the decision-making and innovation at the core of this transformation.

Is this the dawn of the last generation of humans deemed truly valuable in the workforce? As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the answers remain uncertain—but the question is urgent. The

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