Growth Factorials

I was reading an insightful article (https://platforms.substack.com/p/the-many-fallacies-of-ai-wont-take) by Sangeet Paul Choudary. This 3-part series of posts is my interpretation of the same article. The principal argument of the previously mentioned article is that Artificial intelligence will not only automate tasks but redefine entire industries, jobs and roles. This means potential obsolescence for many working professionals, especially those in support functions. The challenge for professionals in support functions (analytics, HR, strategy, operations, etc.) is clear—how you contribute must evolve if you are to remain relevant in this AI-driven workplace.

AI is transforming jobs, not just tasks. Unlike past technologies, which mostly automated routine work, today’s AI can perform intelligent work – it can analyse, plan, and even make decisions. In practice, this means AI is not only doing the easy parts of your job; it’s increasingly capable of tackling complex analysis or problem-solving once done by humans. For example, AI systems can now generate insights and forecasts in finance or supply chain at speeds human analysts can’t match. This level of capability forces a mindset shift: instead of viewing AI as a mere efficiency tool, professionals must recognise it as a force restructuring workflows and roles at a fundamental level. The focus can no longer be on protecting or optimising individual tasks – it must shift to reinventing your role around higher-value contributions that AI cannot replicate easily (like strategic thinking, judgment, creativity, and interpersonal skills).

One key fallacy that can hinder this shift is “task-based thinking.” You may have heard the saying, “AI won’t take your job, but someone using AI will.” This popular mantra contains truth, but also a trap. As AI expert Kendra Vant argues, the idea can give a false sense of security – it implies that if you “just use AI,” your job is safe, and distracts from deeper questions. It’s seductive to think mastering a few AI tools is enough, but that mindset is too narrow. In reality, we need to ask: How will AI change the structure of work and the very logic of how organisations function? You risk missing the bigger picture if you cling to doing the same job minus a few automated tasks. The real winners will be those who reimagine their roles, rather than those who simply bolt AI onto old routines. In short, “AI won’t take your job” – but failing to rethink your job absolutely could.

Nowhere is this mindset shift more important than in non-revenue-generating functions like operations, analytics, HR, or support. Historically, these functions have been viewed as cost centres – necessary overhead focused on efficiency, not direct profit. Their contributions, while critical, are often intangible and hard to tie to the bottom line. In an AI-rich environment, the routine, transactional work of these roles (from data entry to report generation to scheduling) is exactly what’s easiest to automate. If support teams continue measuring their worth by tasks completed or reports delivered, they will find much of that work taken over by algorithms. Therefore, non-revenue functions must redefine how they add value. The onus is on professionals in these roles to shift from a service mindset (“I produce X deliverable”) to a strategic partner mindset (“I drive X outcome for the business”). For example, instead of an analyst being valuable for crunching numbers (which AI can do), their value must come from interpreting insights in context and guiding business decisions – things that tie directly to business results.

Adopting this new mindset begins with embracing change rather than resisting it. Instead of fearing AI’s encroachment, top performers in the coming years will collaborate with AI to amplify their impact. Think of AI as a colleague for automating the grunt work and even offering preliminary insights. Your role then shifts to what only a human can do: asking the right questions, exercising judgment, and ensuring that the organisation acts on the insights in ethical, strategic ways. This is a significant pivot in thinking. It requires letting go of pride in the mechanics of your work (the spreadsheets, the process steps) and doubling down on the meaning of your work (the problem solved or value created for your stakeholders).

In summary, thriving in an AI-transformed world means rethinking your role from the ground up. AI will reshape industries, jobs, workflows, and organisational structures, and professionals in support roles need to proactively reshape their mindset in response. By moving beyond task-based thinking and focusing on genuine value-add, you set yourself up not just to survive automation but to thrive in partnership with it.

The following articles in this series will delve into how to put this mindset into action: first by auditing and redesigning your role, then by planning your career development in the short, medium, and long term.