Solutions with Henry Blodget How to AI-Proof Your Job
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Aug 25, 2025 
David Deming, a Harvard economist and researcher, delves into the future of work and the impact of AI on the job market. He discusses how historical technological shifts offer insights into current trends, emphasizing that AI won't lead to a jobs apocalypse but will transform roles. Deming advocates for proactive education and policy reforms to prepare the workforce. He also highlights the importance of human skills in collaboration with AI, urging a focus on social skills to adapt to these changes effectively.
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Historical Tech Shifts Didn’t Eliminate Jobs
- Major historical tech shifts (farming, electrification, PCs) added jobs overall despite massive disruption.
- The best forecast for AI's impact is the recent past trend, which so far shows no apocalypse.
Farm Mechanization Shows Slow Massive Change
- Farming fell from ~40% of U.S. jobs in 1890 to under 2% today over many decades.
- Massive occupational shifts can occur gradually, allowing economies to create new work.
Today's Churn Is Not The Biggest Ever
- Measured occupational churn shows mid-20th century was the most disruptive era in the U.S.
- Recent decades are actually less disruptive than some earlier periods, so AI must clear a high bar.
