By Ross Grossman, LMFT

Step 0: Be Real About It

Some jobs are already more obsolete than your fax machine. AI isn’t politely asking for your job—it’s coming in with a baseball bat. But don’t panic. Read on, take some courses, and laugh in the face of existential dread.

Step 1: See Which Jobs AI Eats for Breakfast

Jobs vanishing faster than Blockbuster’s stock:

• Data entry, call centers, SEO content mills, basic bookkeeping, junior paralegals reading PDFs all day.
• Up next: truck drivers (if Tesla even figures out how to brake for squirrels), cashiers, fast-food order takers.

If your job is predictable and repetitive, AI is eyeing it like a Vegas buffet. Start planning your escape route.

Step 2: Target the Jobs That Robots Hate

Humans still excel in three deadly areas: Touch, Trust, and Talent.

• Healthcare – nurses, therapists, surgeons—because “Empathy.exe” hasn’t shipped yet.
• Trades & Hands-On Work – plumbers, electricians, mechanics—robots still can’t pick a wrench off a shelf.
• Creative & Human Connection Roles – teachers (especially early childhood and special ed), comedians, chefs, designers, entrepreneurs, negotiators.

If your role involves a heartbeat, you’re safer than the guy whose only selling point is “I’m good at spreadsheets.”

Step 3: Retool by Learning Real AI Skills

You don’t need to build Skynet—just learn enough to seem useful.

• AI For Everyone (Coursera, Andrew Ng): A non-technical intro to AI—great for not sounding like a caveman at mixers.
  Career ServicesLearn Data Science
• Accelerate Your Job Search with AI (Google Career Certificates): Use tools like Gemini or NotebookLM to upgrade your résumé and applications.
  Coursera
• Building with Retool AI (Coursera): Automate workflows, analyze data, build mini-apps—perfect for making your day job look like you’re in the Matrix.
  Coursera
• Free AI Courses from IIT Madras (Swayam Plus): Topics like AI in Accounting, Physics, Chemistry, even Cricket Analytics. Hands-on, real data, no coding experience required.
  The Times of India+1
• IIT Delhi’s Certificate in Data Science & Machine Learning: Live interactive sessions, real datasets, industry-ready skills.
  The Times of India
• IIT Delhi’s 6-Month Executive AI in Healthcare Program: Starting Nov 2025—tailored for healthcare pros who want to become AI-literate.
  The Times of India
• IBM SkillsBuild: Free, multi-language courses in AI fundamentals, prompt-writing, ethical AI—plus IBM-branded credentials.
  Wikipedia
• Elements of AI (University of Helsinki): A reputable, entirely free MOOC in numerous languages, great for a solid foundational understanding.
  Wikipedia
• Harvard’s CS50x (AI-focused modules): Free computer science basics using Python, SQL, even AI—no college tuition required.
  Wikipedia

Step 4: Build Human Skills—AI Still Sucks at These

• People Skills: Communication, negotiation, teaching, caregiving—humans crave connection.
• Creativity & Humor: AI can draft a joke—but nobody’s ever gone to AI’s comedy show.
• Leadership & Strategy: Bots can’t lead, inspire, or hold your hand through recession panic (unless you’re into that).

AI can crunch numbers. It can’t hold your drunk mother’s hand while she cries about life choices.

Step 5: Stay Grounded

Financial: Don’t burn your savings waiting for the robot uprising. Take courses, diversify income—consult, freelance, or teach.
Societal: Surround yourself with humans—join a mastermind, go to meetups, don’t become a Zoom hermit.
Psychological: Use your fear as fuel. Journal, meditate, workout—or just call a therapist. We’ll be here, thanks to job security.

Final Thought

AI isn’t a villain—it’s a new appliance. You can either hide your house in fear or learn to cook with it. Adapt, keep your humor sharp, and remember: if you’ve survived adulthood so far, you’ve got this. And hey—if all else fails, people will always pay to watch someone who admits they’re terrified in public . Comedy gold.

Sincerely,

Ross Grossman, MA, LMFT
Affinity Therapy Services

http://www.affinitytherapyservices.com