After spending plenty of time discussing insights from experts and thought leaders on artificial intelligence, it felt important to hear from real people navigating these changes firsthand. When we asked our peers how they think AI is impacting the business world and their future careers, the responses were mixed - an expected outcome whenever a major technological shift enters the mainstream.an expected outcome whenever a major technological shift enters the mainstream.
The Speed of AI Is What Worries People Most
Despite differing opinions, one concern came up again and again: how fast AI has been adopted. AI - especially agentic AI, which can operate with minimal human input - has gone from theory to everyday use in an incredibly short period of time.
While the foundations of agentic AI date back to the 1990s, it wasn’t widely implemented into usable platforms until around 2024. ChatGPT launched in 2022, and now, in 2026, AI feels omnipresent - especially in business. Many people feel they’re expected to adapt almost overnight, learning new tools and workflows faster than ever before.
Common Fears: Creativity, Connection, and Job Security
The peers we spoke with voiced several recurring concerns. Many worry that AI could erase original ideas, weaken human connection, or take over certain parts of their jobs entirely. These fears are not unreasonable.
According to the Pew Research Center, 52% of workers say they are worried about the future impact of AI in the workplace (Lin, Luona, and Kim Parker). Unsurprisingly, anxiety about job security was the most common concern among those I interviewed.
How AI Impacts Different Career Paths
AI’s influence looks very different depending on the industry.
Medical Fields:
In healthcare, AI is often viewed as a helpful tool. It can transcribe patient visits, streamline administrative tasks, and improve efficiency. However, there is concern that overreliance on AI during training could limit the development of critical thinking skills - an essential ability for medical professionals.
Education:
Students worry that constant AI assistance may reduce their ability to problem-solve independently. This raises questions about how future professionals will develop foundational skills without leaning too heavily on technology.
Engineering:
Engineering students are frequently encouraged to use AI for time-saving purposes. While this boosts productivity, it also introduces the risk of dependency and the loss of original thinking and innovation.
Marketing:
Marketing appears to be one of the fields most immediately affected. AI can now track campaign performance, analyze audience data, and even generate and design content. While these tools increase efficiency, they also raise concerns about creativity, job displacement, and the long-term role of human marketers.
Workers Are More Worried Than Hopeful
Overall, the sentiments shared by my peers align closely with national research. Studies show that U.S. workers, current and future, are more worried than hopeful about AI’s growing role in the workplace (Lin, Luona, and Kim Parker).
Although Generation Z tends to approach the job market with optimism, the rapid expansion of AI has clearly dampened that confidence. Many feel excited about the possibilities but uncertain about what their roles will look like in just a few years.
Which Jobs Will Be Most Affected?
Researchers at Microsoft recently released a list of 40 professions they predict will be most affected by AI. Among the roles with the highest “AI applicability scores” were translators, historians, and writers. However, the list extended well beyond traditionally creative fields. Jobs involving computer science, mathematics, and administrative office work also ranked highly - meaning these professions are more likely than not to be significantly impacted by AI in the coming years (Fore).
These findings reinforce a key takeaway: AI is no longer a distant concern. It is actively reshaping how work is done, forcing both current and future professionals to adapt at an unprecedented pace.
One of the most surprising findings from the research was that higher education does not shield workers from AI disruption. In fact, Microsoft researchers found higher AI applicability for occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree than for jobs with lower educational requirements.
In other words, earning a four-year degree may actually increase the likelihood that a role could be automated or fundamentally reshaped by AI rather than reduce it. This helps explain why many recent college graduates are gravitating toward fields they perceive as more stable, such as education.
Among my peers, the prevailing sentiment wasn’t confidence or certainty - it was hope. Many expressed hope that their entry into the workforce will come before AI creates substantial disruption in their chosen fields. For those entering the job market now, AI presents far more unknowns than guarantees, making long-term planning feel increasingly difficult.
Perhaps the most pragmatic perspective comes from Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, who advises that “every job will be touched by AI in some way, and so it’s best to embrace it” (Fore).
Whether that advice feels reassuring or unsettling is ultimately up to you. What is clear, however, is that AI is no longer a distant possibility - it is already reshaping the workforce. Adaptation, rather than avoidance, may be the only constant moving forward.