If Thomas Jefferson somehow came back today and we had a chance to visit, we might mention that—unlike when he was president and 90 percent of US residents lived on farms—now only two percent live on farms.

Incredulous, he might say: “What do those other people do?”

We might reply: “Well, they fly airplanes, sell cybersecurity software, bury fiber lines, color hair, or maybe they’re influencers for clothing brands. That sort of stuff.”

***

Today, the advent of generative ai has pundits predicting all sorts of bad things. Unemployment. Displacement. You name it.

And change is afoot. I recently spoke with a creative agency that—until the last year or so—took three to six months and lots of people to create a TV commercial. Location scouting. Hiring talent. Scripting. Production. Postproduction.

Now, with generative ai, they can do it in 15 minutes.  Let that sink in.

The question is, do we spend our time wringing our hands about the disruption, or do we spend it creating the “new things to do?” Are we freak-outers or forward-movers?

***

History’s been full of both.

Back in the day, new technology meant farms needed fewer people. (Oh no! Disruption!) But other technology inspired mass production, and people moved from farms to factories. (Aha! New opportunities!)

Then there was more disruption. And more opportunity. Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

Today our economy employs more people than ever…most of them not on farms. But new technology is again threatening to disrupt things. What will we do?

***

The changes won’t be easy. Never have been. But I was heartened by recent Gen Z research from my friend Lisa W. Miller. Turns out, more of Gen Z use generative ai for curious pursuits—learning new things, trying new things—than for productivity—writing school papers, creating presentations.

Yes, generative ai is producing massive gains in productivity. But the craftiest among us are not fretting. They’re carrying on.

So…as someone who has had to go from journalist to corporate communications executive to, nowadays, author and professional speaker on leadership and change…I say, let’s carry on.

I think Jefferson—the inventor, the scientist, and even the agrarian—would agree.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to being in touch!

Al Comeaux

NOTE: I can’t remember where I first heard the Thomas Jefferson example, but it’s not original to me.