Whenever AI comes up, people ask: “Is this going to replace my job?” It’s the same fear people had when PCs arrived in the 90s. Back then, computers didn’t replace people directly, they replaced people who didn’t know how to use them. The ones who leaned in became faster, more valuable, and harder to replace.
AI is playing out the same way. In other words, the real risk isn’t AI itself, it’s not knowing how to use and apply it.
Why AI Is Your Career Insurance
Think of AI as an insurance policy for your career. If the technology is coming no matter what, the safest place to be is on the side of the people who know how to use it. AI doesn’t make you redundant; it makes you the person who can take on more, move faster, and deliver more value.
And when tough decisions get made, leaders don’t cut the people who are showing the organisation how to use the tools of the future. They hold onto them.
Become the Person Everyone Turns To
In every workplace there’s always that person, the one people go to when they need help with new tools. In the 90s, it was “the computer person.” Today, it’s “the AI person.” And the people who take that spot don’t just become more useful, they become more visible.
Being the one who can show your team how to use AI in real tasks, from drafting documents to analysing data to automating workflows, makes you the go-to problem solver. That kind of reputation promotes you instead of pushing you aside.
It’s not just about getting promoted though, it’s fast becoming a clear sign of your value to potential employers.
Value Signal
AI skills don’t just make you faster, they make you look more valuable. Employers already see AI fluency as a marker of adaptability and forward thinking. Job postings mentioning AI are offering higher salaries and better benefits because organisations are desperate for those skills.
When you put “AI capability” on your résumé, and more importantly, when you can show it with real projects, you’re sending a clear signal: I’m not just keeping up, I’m ahead. And in competitive environments, that perception can be the difference between being chosen or being overlooked.
A Leadership Signal
AI skills aren’t just about getting tasks done. They’re a leadership signal. You don’t need to be the most technical person in the room to lead AI conversations. You just need to know where it fits, how to train it on what matters to your business, and how to explain it in plain language.
When you can do that, people listen. You’re not the one waiting for strategy to trickle down, you’re shaping it.
Closing Thought
AI isn’t the threat to your job. Ignoring AI is. The safest move you can make in your career right now is to treat AI like an insurance policy: get the skills, apply them to real work, and become the person everyone trusts to lead the way.
That’s how you go from replaceable to indispensable.
Cheers,
Adam Walsh
Founder – Bizualize