MedED AI Epoch:124 From the Tube to the Truth: Why 'Stop Hiring Humans' Felt So Wrong

While traveling from Euston London to attend a conference , I had a chance encounter that left me deeply reflective and honestly, a bit disheartened. Somewhere between Russell Square and Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line, an advert caught my eye. It shouted in bold letters:

👉 “Stop Hiring Humans – The Era of AI Employees Is Here.”

At first glance, it seemed like just another attention-grabbing campaign. But the more I looked, the more it unsettled me. It wasn't just provocative. It was dismissive—as if humans were obsolete, as if empathy, intuition, creativity, and ethical judgment could be entirely outsourced to code.

💭 It struck a nerve.

As someone deeply immersed in the integration of AI in medical education, I’ve always envisioned technology as an ally, not a replacement. The idea that we should stop hiring humans is not just incorrect it’s dangerous.

Instead of fostering partnership, such narratives cultivate fear, competition, and disposability. And that’s not the kind of future I want to help build. So, What Should the Future Look Like?

We need to talk about Humanizing AI.

We should not be talking about replacing humans, but about augmenting human potential. The vision should be one of collaboration, where AI serves under human control, guided by human ethics, empathy, and contextual understanding.

The key to ethical AI isn't just smart algorithms it’s wise humans.

Here are some reminders I carry with me as both an educator and a researcher:

✅ AI should be trained with ethical considerations, but controlled by humans.

✅ AI can support decision-making, but must never overrule human values.

✅ AI can simulate communication, but cannot replace authentic human connection.

✅ AI can generate options, but the final judgment must remain a human responsibility.

💡 Final Reflection

That subway sign wasn’t just a provocative ad—it was a reminder of the narrative we must actively resist.

While I support innovation, I also believe in responsible progress. Let us not frame AI as a superior species but rather as a digital companion, designed to amplify the best of humanity—not erase it.

Dr. Shazia Iqbal