AI at work: Utopia or Dystopia?

Written By Alice Phillips

What happens when humans are no longer the smartest beings on the planet?
This week on Work Is Weird Now, we’re joined by David Brown — founder of FutureHand Media, producer of With AI FM, and a one-man content powerhouse. From podcasting to AI to generational shifts in work, this conversation spiraled (in the best way) through the weirdest corners of the modern working world.

Podcasting: The Last Human Medium?

David is a podcasting purist. For him, the medium’s power lies in its unfiltered, unscripted, ad-free humanity. In an era of hyper-curated content and influencer polish, podcasting still allows for real conversations — and that’s why he believes it’s the perfect space to explore topics as thorny as AI and the future of work.

But podcasting is evolving fast. As big-money shows move into video-first formats with broadcast-level production, smaller creators (like us) are feeling the pressure. The risk? Podcasting becomes just another commercialised channel: the very thing it was born to resist.

AI: Apocalypse or Liberation?

David’s core message is this: AI isn’t coming — it’s already here. And it’s not just reshaping creative work, it’s dismantling it. From copywriting to audio editing, freelance jobs are disappearing — fast.

He’s deeply concerned about the long-term economic and social impacts. Junior roles are vanishing, meaning we’re training AI systems instead of human talent. He predicts a collapse of knowledge work, and with it, a spike in boredom, loneliness, and unrest.

“No one’s ever come for the smart people before. Until now.”

But not all is bleak. David also sees immense creative potential in AI — new tools for storytelling, music, and experimentation. In some ways, it’s the ultimate equaliser: giving non-technical or non-creative people a shot at expressing themselves.

What About the Next Generation?

This isn’t a future problem. It’s a now problem. David’s own teenage son, like many Gen Zers, is questioning the value of university. Why rack up debt for a job that might not exist in 10 years?

He predicts a return to “human dexterity” jobs — the kind AI and robots can’t (yet) do well. Plumbers, stylists, electricians, care workers — these roles will see a resurgence as knowledge work gets automated.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The ep ends on a philosophical (and hopeful) note. If AI can take the grind away, could it free us up to do more of what makes us human? Can we lean into empathy, ethics, community, and creativity?

Alice suggests that this "apocalypse" might also be a liberation — from productivity culture, from toxic tech habits, and from work that’s always been too much and too little at once.

Dan reminds us: there has to be hope. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Key Takeaways:

  • Podcasting still matters — but the game is changing fast.

  • AI is already eliminating creative jobs. The next wave? Knowledge work.

  • Gen Z is opting out of traditional paths — and they might be right.

  • The long-term social and psychological impacts of AI are still unknown.

  • The future of work might be... back to the trades?

  • There’s still time to choose a more human-centred future — but not much.

Connect with David Brown:

Alice Phillips
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