AI Isn't the Future of Work. It's the Present. Here's What to Do.

We've all heard the AI hype. In fact, many of us have started tuning it out. But here's the reality: artificial intelligence isn't some far-off technology that might affect your job someday. It's already reshaping how we work right now.

I recently sat down with Ryan Patel , a global business executive and senior fellow at the Drucker School of Management , to cut through the noise and get practical about what AI means for workers today.

The Future Is Already Here

One of the first things Ryan clarified is that we need to stop thinking about AI as something that's coming and start recognizing it's already here.

"I think the future of AI is present," Ryan told me. "We're not really talking about what's going to happen in three, four or five years. I think that's where the lag is. We should be focusing on what's going to happen in the next three to six months."

He's right. AI is already reading through our emails, prioritizing our tasks and changing how businesses operate. Companies are using it to speed up legal research, enhance customer experiences and even alert custodial staff about spills in real-time. The question isn't whether AI will affect your job; it's how you'll adapt to work alongside it.

Every Job Will Be Touched by AI

When I asked Ryan about roles that might seem immune to AI disruption, he had a wake-up call for anyone thinking they're safe.

"Let's be honest, companies are after increasing the experience of the consumer," he explained. "That means they want to know everything that you can do humanly possible to be able to give that experience."

Ryan gave a simple but powerful example: "It could be, 'Oh, clean up in aisle four.' Instead of 10 minutes, it's literally 30 seconds because the camera saw it, you got a beep, you're ready to go."

Even if you can't imagine how AI might affect your specific role, someone, somewhere is already working on it. The key is to get ahead of the curve.

Audit Your Role, Find Your Unique Value

So how do you stay valuable when AI can do parts of your job faster and cheaper? Ryan's advice is both practical and urgent.

"You've got to really audit your own role," Ryan said. "What repetitive tasks are you doing? What things are you doing that AI can't replicate?"

This self-audit is critical. While AI can process data and handle repetitive tasks, it can't replicate human judgment, emotional intelligence or the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. As Ryan pointed out, AI might be able to predict what he and I would generically say based on our online content, "but they wouldn't really know what we're feeling right now and what kind of mood we're in."

Become Nimble, Not Just Skilled

When it comes to the popular advice to "upskill," Ryan offered a more nuanced perspective. It's not just about learning new skills — it's about being nimble with your entire career.

"The question is upskill what?" Ryan asked.

Instead of just accumulating certifications, Ryan suggested thinking more broadly about where your skills might be valuable. "Because most likely you haven't really spent time seeing in what other industries where you actually are valuable."

Start Playing with AI Today

Perhaps the most actionable advice Ryan gave was simple: start experimenting with AI now, regardless of your role.

"I think AI literacy is really important," he said. "No matter what job you do, you have to play with AI… You don't need to be the expert, but just understand how it affects your job, your industry or other industries as well."

Even if you're a janitor wondering how AI could possibly help you, Ryan suggests getting creative. Put your route into ChatGPT and ask if there's a more efficient way to clean. If you have a sore ankle, ask how to minimize steps while still getting the job done. The point isn't to become an AI expert; it's to understand how these tools might enhance your work.

Few companies have been more sought after over the past couple of decades as an employer than Google. One person who spent most of that time there and who helped make it known as a place to grow your career is Jenny Wood . Even though her work focused on sales and operations, she created one of the largest career development programs in Google's history. Now, she's sharing those tips in her New York Times bestseller Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It. She joined me on the latest episode of Get Hired with Andrew Seaman to talk about her book and what she wants people to know.

A transcript of the conversation is available here. You can listen to the episode at the link above or on your favorite podcast platform by clicking here.