AI and the Future of Work

The future of work is here, and it’s being shaped by AI. But is it the utopia some are promising? Recently, I listened to a podcast featuring a former OpenAI employee who painted a rosy picture of the “Great Awakening”—a world where rote work is automated, leaving us with endless hours for passion projects, leisure, and entrepreneurial ventures. Sounds dreamy, right? But as a creative, I couldn’t help but wonder: Is this vision realistic, or just another techno-utopian fantasy? 

The Gig Economy: Freedom or Fragility?  

The gig economy has already shown us the double-edged sword of independence. As freelancers, consultants, and solopreneurs, we trade job security for flexibility. No micromanagement, no office politics—just the freedom to create on our own terms. But let’s be real: it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.  

The Upside: Creative freedom, flexible schedules, and the ability to choose projects that align with your passions.  

The Downside: No healthcare, no pensions, and the constant hustle to secure contracts, chase payments, and renew gigs.  

For many, the gig economy isn’t a choice—it’s a necessity. And while AI promises to automate repetitive tasks, it doesn’t solve the systemic issues that make freelancing so precarious.  

The Privilege of Optimism  

The podcast guest’s optimism felt... privileged. Not everyone has seed capital, investors, or a safety net to fall back on. For most creatives, launching a business means juggling rent, childcare, and medical expenses while trying to stay afloat. Cash flow problems, not lack of talent or intelligence, are the leading cause of failure for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs.  

This isn’t just a competency issue—the playing field is tilted, and no amount of hustle can level it.  

The Creative’s Edge in the Age of AI  

So, where does that leave us? How do we thrive in a world where AI is reshaping the future of work? Here’s the good news: creativity is inherently human. While AI can mimic, it can’t replicate the authenticity, emotion, and unique perspective that you bring to your work.  

1. Build Community: Collaboration and connection are your superpowers. Network, share resources, and support fellow creatives.  

2. Embrace Your Voice: Your perspective is irreplaceable. Lean into what makes your work uniquely you.  

3. Speak Directly to People: Whether through public speaking, video content, or live interactions, human connection is your competitive edge.  

The Bigger Picture: AI, Regulation, and the Creative Economy  
As AI continues to evolve, so do the questions around ethics, copyright, and compensation. Generative AI is already disrupting creative fields, raising concerns about authorship and fair use.  
- EU: The AI Act aims to ensure transparency and respect for fundamental rights, while the Copyright Directive balances AI development with creators’ rights.  

- UK: Proposed reforms allowing AI to use copyrighted works without permission have sparked backlash from artists like Jimmy Page and Elton John.  

- US: The Fair Use Doctrine is under scrutiny as legal battles, like Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence, test the boundaries of AI and copyright.  

These debates are critical for creatives. If AI-generated works aren’t eligible for copyright, how do we protect our intellectual property? And if companies can automate creative tasks, what happens to our livelihoods?  

The future of work is uncertain, but one thing is clear: we need to shape it. Whether through advocacy, innovation, or community-building, creatives have the power to ensure that AI serves us—not the other way around.  

There are some hard questions ahead. Will Universal Basic Income become a necessity in a jobless economy?  Can we create platforms and networks that prioritize human connection over exploitation? How do we ensure that AI amplifies, rather than replaces, human creativity?  The answers won’t come easy, but one thing’s for sure: the future belongs to those who create it.  

What are your thoughts on AI and the future of work? How are you preparing for the changes ahead?

Vulnerability Hangover: Why Sharing Your Art Matters

In her now-famous TED talk, researcher Brené Brown redefined courage, challenging the widespread belief that bravery means suppressing vulnerability. Instead, she argued, true courage is found in allowing ourselves to be seen, despite our fears of judgment. Vulnerability requires dismantling the protective walls we build to shield our hearts, and that can feel deeply uncomfortable.

But in today’s world, being vulnerable feels more essential than ever. It takes courage to share your art, ideas, and voice, especially in an environment saturated with negativity, bigotry, and fear-mongering rhetoric. Yet, sharing something authentic can contribute to a more positive and inclusive discourse—one that fosters understanding, connection, and growth.

Imagine a world without music, literature, or art. Without the creative expression of the human heart and mind, what would we even be creating technology for? Algorithms, AI, and robotics are all tools, but they’re meaningless without the beauty and depth of human creativity to bring them to life. Art and culture are at their best when they reflect our vulnerabilities, building bridges between people and creating shared experiences.

For the past few months, I’ve been challenging myself to show up more openly. As a natural introvert, this hasn’t been easy. Every time I post a blog or a video, that nagging, self-critical voice in my head kicks in: What if this goes badly? I cringe at the thought of being judged, and sometimes the discomfort lingers long after I’ve hit “publish.”

But I’m learning. Slowly, I’m ignoring that voice and taking small, deliberate steps toward sharing more of myself. It’s still a work in progress. I marvel at people who can effortlessly speak into a camera and share their stories online. For me, it’s a process of overcoming mental hurdles one by one. Even so, I’m committed to continuing on this path, curious to see where it leads.

The world is overflowing with dissonance and division right now. My hope is that by sharing my perspective, I can spark a little more kindness and inspire others to share their hearts as well. Vulnerability can feel like a risk, but it’s also an invitation—to connect, to create, and to find the courage to be yourself.

E.E. Cummings said it best:

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, day and night, to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight and never stop fighting.”

It’s a battle worth fighting. Vulnerability builds courage, fosters connection, and ultimately leads to a more peaceful and fulfilling life—one lived on your own terms.

So, take the risk. Share your heart. It’s worth it.

Productivity, Process, and Progress

Overcoming the Creative Roadblocks

In recent years, the non-fiction aisle has been flooded with books promising to unlock greater productivity, efficiency, and mastery over your time. The message is clear: we’re obsessed with doing more, better, and in less time. Yet, modern work often feels like an endless juggling act. Remote meetings blend into Slack conversations, toggling between twenty open browser tabs, replying to emails while searching for attachments that seem to have vanished into the ether. Amidst all this chaos, we schedule carpools, pay bills, and handle life’s demands.

We know context switching is a productivity killer, yet most of us do it all day, every day. Is there a better way? Can we allow ourselves to focus on just one task at a time?

The Mental Overload of Modern Life

Did you know we have up to 60,000 thoughts per day? Astonishingly, 95% of them are repeats from the day before, and up to 80% can be negative. The mental chatter is relentless:

• “I don’t want to sit through this boring meeting.”

• “Why can’t I remember my password?”

• “What’s wrong with me? I’ll never finish this project.”

It’s no surprise we feel drained. Research suggests that multitasking can double the time it takes to finish a task and increase error rates by up to 50%. Yet we still do it. Why? Often, it’s a form of procrastination.

The Procrastination Trap

When faced with a big, daunting task, we tend to start with smaller, less important ones. The logic? Crossing a few things off our to-do list will give us the momentum to tackle the big one. But those smaller tasks often snowball, leaving the real priorities untouched.

Strangely, the tasks we procrastinate on are often the ones we care about the most. They’re the big-ticket items:

• “Finish novel.”

• “Record podcast.”

• “Launch business idea.”

Why do these tasks linger on our to-do lists, haunting us year after year? The fear of failure, inadequacy, or unmet expectations often paralyzes us. We avoid starting because starting means committing.

Decision Paralysis: The Creative Killer

At the heart of procrastination lies decision paralysis—the overwhelming anxiety of choosing a path when the outcome is uncertain. Creative work, in particular, requires countless micro-decisions, each one stacking atop the last. It’s exhausting, especially when you don’t have all the information or can’t see the full picture.

In the past week alone, I’ve felt this paralysis:

• Trying to design the weapons and landscape for a futuristic battle scene.

• Deciding on a side character’s name and backstory.

• Figuring out how to cancel a mysterious streaming subscription no one in my family seems to use.

• Connecting a Roland synthesizer to my computer.

Each of these required more steps than anticipated. What I thought would take two steps ballooned into five—or seven. Frustration mounted, inertia set in, and progress ground to a halt.

Overcoming the Roadblocks

The solution is both simple and maddeningly slow: focus on one task at a time.

• Commit fully to solving one problem.

• Resist the urge to think about what else you “should” be doing.

• Accept that progress will take time and energy.

It’s not glamorous, but it works. The real win is learning to celebrate the small victories along the way. Solving a major roadblock—whether it’s figuring out a plot point, finishing a sketch, or debugging code—is just as important as crossing the finish line.

Step-by-Step, Detail by Detail

Creative work isn’t about monumental leaps forward; it’s about methodically tackling each step, each detail. The key is to fight the temptation to judge yourself for “not making progress” and instead focus on what’s in front of you.

This is advice I need as much as anyone else. Finishing creative projects always takes more time, energy, and mental effort than expected. But every step forward—no matter how small—is still progress.

So, to anyone feeling stuck on a creative project this week: hang in there. Celebrate your wins, however minor they seem, and trust that every detail you solve brings you closer to the finish line.

You’ve got this.

https://www.instagram.com/art4_marax/reel/DFQ24Q1oKVL/

🎯 2025 Creative Goals ✍️🎨

As we step into 2025, I’m hoping for a year filled with creativity and completed projects.

Reaching my objectives requires a disciplined approach, meaning I need to work consistently while simultaneously combating my tendencies toward procrastination and perfectionism, which often slow my progress. Juggling a full-time job, two kids, a seriously ill parent, and possibly ADHD will be a challenge. What’s my plan? I’ll use this space for weekly accountability updates. Beginning today!

Here’s what I’m working toward:

🎨 Daily Drawing Practice

• Devoting 1 hour every day to drawing.

• Completing 1 full illustration every week.

📚 Writing & Editing Goals

• Writing and editing 25,000 words per week.

📖 Projects to Complete & Share

1. These Bubbles Are Forever

• Illustrate all 35 images for this picture book.

• Submit the manuscript and illustrations to agents/publishers.

2. Madi and the Moon

• Finalize this MG fantasy (65-70k words).

• Query agents and publishers.

3. Mirror Quartet (Adult Epic Fantasy Series)

• Complete and self-publish the first two books (200k-250k words combined).

It’s an ambitious plan, but one fueled by passion and purpose. Each of these projects represents a piece of my heart, and I’m determined to bring them into the world.

What are your creative goals for 2025? Let’s dream big together! ✨

Finishing

“Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”

— Samuel Beckett

Starting is easy. Finishing, not so much.

I’m planning to use this space to upload work, keep myself accountable and override the perfectionist in my head.

Art is a process, not a product.

So, here’s mine…