Will AI Replace Your Job?

Everyone's asking the same question: "Will AI replace my job?"

It’s the wrong question.

A better one is:

"Which parts of my job could a really good intern do?"

Instead of fixating on the fate of your entire career, do this instead. Shift your focus to the specific tasks, skills, and responsibilities your job actually requires. Break them down. Be honest.

Now apply what I call The Intern Test. For each item, ask:

• Could a smart intern do this?
• Would i trust an intern’s judgment here?

And to be clear, this isn't your average summer intern. Imagine someone with a Master’s degree (nearing PhD level), strong technical skills, and zero organizational context. That’s the kind of "intern" AI is becoming.

The tasks you'd confidently hand off to that kind of intern? They’re the first ones on the chopping block for automation.

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Here’s how that looks in my past life as a data analyst:

Intern-Ready Tasks

• Cleaning and formatting datasets
• Creating standard reports and dashboards
• Writing basic SQL and Python code

Requires Some Experience

• Deciding which metrics actually matter
• Identifying patterns across multiple data sources
• Designing custom analysis approaches

Requires Significant Expertise

• Asking the right questions in the first place
• Determining what data we should collect but aren't
• Navigating organizational politics to get buy-in for insights

Your turn. Are you overloaded with intern-level tasks? Or are you spending time where real influence and expertise are needed?

Early in my career, I dreamed of working in baseball. I landed a few highly competitive internships. The day-to-day? Mostly mundane tasks. I kept my head down and focused on doing them well.

That was a mistake.

Baby Nelson didn’t realize that if you only stick to intern-level work, you’re just keeping the seat warm for the next intern.

Those interns who were able to show real value? They’re General Managers now. I’m not kidding.

That same shift is happening today, just swap “intern” with “AI.”

So ask yourself: Are you working like someone who’s positioning for growth, or like someone waiting to be replaced?

Your willingness to adapt, not your resume - is your edge now.

Don’t be naive.

Don’t assume you’re immune.

Don’t cling to what’s comfortable.

The folks who thrive will be the ones who automate the intern work and double down on the high-leverage stuff.