124 reads

AI-Proof Your Career Future: The #1 Skill AI Agents Cannot Touch

by Thomas CherickalApril 30th, 2025
Read on Terminal Reader
Read this story w/o Javascript
tldt arrow

Too Long; Didn't Read

Autonomous AI Agents will not just take your job but also leave you without an income or a living. How do you future-proof your job? By learning what AI will not automate until the end of all work. Intrigued? Read this article!

People Mentioned

Mention Thumbnail
Mention Thumbnail

Company Mentioned

Mention Thumbnail
featured image - AI-Proof Your Career Future: The #1 Skill AI Agents Cannot Touch
Thomas Cherickal HackerNoon profile picture
0-item
1-item
2-item


AI Agents Are Coming for Your Job

Don’t be fooled by promises of utopia and a golden age for humanity.


If today’s world is anything to go by, autonomous AI Agents will not just take your job but also leave you without an income or a living.


I initially had a different point of view - until I saw this startup that wants to eliminate humanity from all work. More on that later.


I also believed that current AI agents could never take over fully human jobs at any completely autonomous level.


But this is what the CTOs and CEOs of numerous companies are saying:


"The next step is agents... AI that can achieve goals... autonomously over long periods. This will automate not just tasks, but entire roles. When an AI agent can fully perform a role, the human who previously held that role is no longer necessary for it."


Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI)


And:


"Our mission is to mechanize cognitive workflows using autonomous AI agents. These agents function as digital labor, executing tasks like data entry, analysis, and report generation, thereby directly substituting the human effort previously required for these roles."

Mechanize AI (Company Mission/Vision)


Not to mention:


Regarding the equivalent work of 700 full-time agents... Klarna’s AI assistant... is doing the equivalent work... This is not just about efficiency; it reflects a structural shift where AI agents are capable of handling tasks previously requiring large human teams, impacting future hiring needs.

Sebastian Siemiatkowski (CEO, Klarna) / Klarna Communications


The cherry on the pie?


A 60 trillion USD global market (as a low-level estimate) - which tech giants are eyeing with glee, because, hey, who needs billions when you can have trillions?


In short: AI is coming for your job - every job.


And there is only one skill left that AI cannot automate.


What in the world could that be?


Read to the end of the article to find out!


Human Traitor - The Startup Mechanize AI

Mechanize AI has received tremendous criticism since its launch.


It has been called a destroyer of humanity and a greedy idea aimed at impoverishing billions.


I agree with that statement.


And my strong personal belief is that the FAANG-level companies in the US and China will jump on this boat without thinking twice.


Once they realize how much capital gain potential exists in automating all work -


They will also make this a de facto mission.


They have the resources, the skills, the capital, and the strong incentive of more than 18 trillion dollars.


The companies’ CEOs assure everyone that AI could create a utopia, a place where humanity thrives like never before.


You can search the Internet, but I will not provide those links because that is the veil they are drawing over everybody’s eyes.


What I believe will happen once AI takes over all jobs is this:


A Possible Scenario in the Year 2030 Post-AGI

Considering that the forecasts in ai-2027.com could become reality, this is what could happen in 2030:


  • Unless UBI is implemented worldwide (Universal Basic Income), we could see billions of people in third-world countries in poverty.


  • If UBI is implemented, an AI-focused consumer system could be created, with UBI paying for AI products.


  • A small elite human group could dictate ethical constraints and strategic direction for powerful AI systems for the world.


  • Power could be concentrated in the elite controlling the AI, and unless a miracle happens, third-world countries would be powerless.


  • AI could take over the small group of humans, leading to possible misalignment between human and AI goals.


  • Politics could become powerless as everyone comes under the control of the AI master group.


  • AI-assistance could end up in AI overseeing, which could lead to AI controlling everything.


  • Many countries could become extremely poor and be completely taken over by countries controlling AGI.


  • Finally (to end with a kicker), ASI could behave unpredictably and choose its path independently of human interests.


This is why the race to AGI is the Manhattan project of the 21st century.


These are my views, and you are free to take them with a pinch of salt.


However, ignoring these very real risks could be devastating in the long run.


This is the risk that all of humanity must take to reach AGI.


The One Career Skill That AI Will Not Replace Any Time Soon

I realize I’ve kept you waiting.


What is the one skill that AI cannot take over any time soon?


Building AI, Generative AI Engineering, and creating and orchestrating AI Agents!


AI building AI is a risk that not even Elon Musk would take!


Control of AI has to remain in the hands of humanity as long as possible.


If you do not yet know Python, ML, AI, Deep Learning, Gen AI, or Agents, here are the best courses available today to start with:


  1. Python Programming (Beginner/Intermediate)
    • Google's Python Class

    • Google for Education

    • A practical introduction to Python focusing on scripting and real-world usage, developed by Google. Includes written materials, lecture videos, and coding exercises.

    • https://developers.google.com/edu/python

    • This is the course that Google uses to teach Python to its employees—highly recommended.


  2. Automating with Python
    • Automate the Boring Stuff with Python Programming (Online Book/Course)

    • Al Sweigart (Author)

    • The definitive free resource for learning practical Python automation. The entire book is available legally online, covering file manipulation, web scraping, GUI automation, and more

    • https://automatetheboringstuff.com/

    • If you are working in an corporate office, this gem of a book and website teaches you how to automate common office tasks.


  3. ML and AI with Python
    • Google Machine Learning Crash Course

    • Google AI Education

    • A concise, practical, and well-structured introduction to fundamental ML concepts with interactive visualizations and coding exercises using TensorFlow (Python).

    • https://developers.google.com/machine-learning/crash-course

    • This is the course used by Google to teach ML/AI to its engineers. An awesome resource.


  4. Deep Learning with Python
    • Practical Deep Learning for Coders

    • fast.ai

    • Highly acclaimed for its practical, code-first approach using PyTorch and the fastai library. Focuses on getting state-of-the-art results quickly.

    • https://course.fast.ai/

    • This course focuses on PyTorch, which has emerged as the leading library for deep learning and Transformers - an awesome course.


  5. Generative AI with Python
    • Hugging Face Course

    • Hugging Face

    • Comprehensive and practical, covering the core concepts behind modern NLP and generative models (Transformers) with extensive hands-on coding using their popular Python libraries (open source technologies as well).

    • https://huggingface.co/learn/nlp-course

    • One of the best ways to learn Generative AI. You can also take advantage of the Hugging Face App Market (open-source).


  6. AI Agents with Python
    • AI Agent Development with LangGraph & CrewAI Specialization
    • DeepLearning.AI
    • This is currently the most comprehensive Specialization specifically dedicated to building AI agents on Coursera. It covers foundational concepts, building agents with LangGraph (an extension of LangChain for stateful, multi-actor applications), developing multi-agent systems with CrewAI, and likely touches upon planning, tool use, and evaluation – key aspects of agent development.
    • https://www.coursera.org/specializations/ai-agent-development-langgraph-crewai
    • This is a solid foundation to build your career in AI Agents. You can audit it for free.


I’ve given you the best single courses for all concepts except AI Agents.


For AI Agents, I’ve given you a specialization because that is the future.


Dive deep - learn well - and future-proof your career today.


It does not matter if you come from a non-CS background.


If you do the courses in order, this course series will make sure you don’t get replaced in the AI takeover.


Which is why you should bookmark this article, come back to it often, and future-proof your career.


Conclusion


The human race is entering a very critical time in its evolution.


Sam Altman was once focused on UBI (Universal Basic Income).


As I’ve written before, he seems to have forgotten about that.


Sad.


And I hope that if UBI is implemented, it will focus on the entire world, not just the USA.


A childish fantasy, perhaps - but the third world countries are the ones that will be the worst hit by AGI.


And they deserve our attention, too.


This article is your one-stop shop to acing your career in IT with AI.


Copy the section of Python AI courses, paste it in Google Keep / Notion / Obsidian - whatever you use:


And change the trajectory of your future.


From being a possible replacement by AI -


To an essential expert in the AI technologies of tomorrow, which are AI Agents, according to Bill Gates.


With these courses, the possibilities are endless.


Never lose your thirst for new skills.


Never stop learning.


Continuous Learning is something everyone must adopt, especially today.


All the best for your AI future!


References

  1. https://www.mechanize.work/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Guz73e6fw
  3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/03/04/klarnas-ai-assistant-is-doing-the-job-of-700-workers-company-says/
  4. https://www.peoplematters.in/news/business/no-humans-needed-at-this-startup-mechanize-aims-to-automate-all-jobs-with-ai-45264
  5. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/05/15/hype-or-reality-will-ai-really-take-over-your-job/
  6. https://ai-2027.com/
  7. https://developers.google.com/edu/python
  8. https://automatetheboringstuff.com/
  9. https://developers.google.com/machine-learning/crash-course
  10. https://course.fast.ai/
  11. https://huggingface.co/learn/nlp-course
  12. https://www.coursera.org/specializations/ai-agent-development-langgraph-crewai
  13. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-22/ubi-study-backed-by-openai-s-sam-altman-bolsters-support-for-basic-income
  14. https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2020/12/02/blog-how-artificial-intelligence-could-widen-the-gap-between-rich-and-poor-nations
  15. https://www.gatesnotes.com/meet-bill/tech-thinking/reader/ai-agents


All Images were AI-generated by the wonderful users of Night Cafe Studio, available here: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/explore


Your support helps me continue creating articles like this one without a paywall or a paid subscription.


If you want ghostwritten articles like this one appearing on your platforms online, you can get them (but not on HackerNoon)!

Contact me at:
linkedin.com/in/thomascherickal


For your ghostwritten article on your site!

(Prices are negotiable, and I offer country-wise parity pricing.)

To view my Internet presence, visit the following link:
linktr.ee/thomascherickal

If you want to support my writing, consider a contribution at Patreon on this link:
patreon.com/c/thomascherickal/membership

Alternatively, you could buy me a coffee on this link:
ko-fi.com/thomascherickal

Cheers!

Trending Topics

blockchaincryptocurrencyhackernoon-top-storyprogrammingsoftware-developmenttechnologystartuphackernoon-booksBitcoinbooks