A few weeks ago, a pen pal messaged me:

"Robin, congratulations on the new start. Are you trying to make people like me obsolete with this? 😁" .

Ive got similar questions from friends, team members, juniors, and even seniors. (concerning!). I had envisioned multiple outcomes from building an AI Agentic future, but dont see this happening in any scenario.

Let me start with the darkness many of us might feel right now. It’s not just about a new tool or an industry buzzword. It’s about the fear that a machine might replace our identity. Seeing an AI agent breeze through tasks that once required our creativity can feel like watching it break down the pillars of our career.

Don't be John

As the legend goes, John Henry was hired as a steel driver for the railroad. Later, the railroad company brought in a steam drill to speed up work on the tunnel. It was said that the steam drill could drill faster than any man. The challenge was on, “man against machine.” John Henry was known as the strongest, the fastest, and the most powerful man working on the railroad. He went up against the steam drill to prove that the black worker could drill a hole through the rock farther and faster than the drill could. Using two 10-pound hammers, one in each hand, he pounded the drill so fast and so hard that he drilled a 14-foot hole into the rock. The legend says that the drill was only able to drill nine feet. John Henry beat the steam drill and later died of exhaustion.

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Key lesson: Don't go into the thought of "Man vs Machine".

Just like the steam drill, or aviation, or cloud technologies, the biggest opportunities in AI won't be just about reducing costs in existing processes; they will be about solving problems that were previously too expensive or inefficient to tackle. Just like how we moved from relying on horses to driving cars, or from telephone operators to mobile phones, AI allows us to bring automation and intelligence to areas that never had them before, unlocking entirely new possibilities.

Lets zoom out, beyond our immediate fears:

1. Automation Paradox in History: Over the last two decades, automation has affected nearly every industry, and yet, employment in technical fields has grown by 17% globally. Why? Because new technology didn't eliminate jobs, it shifted them—transforming roles, making the human skills more critical, even as the repetitive tasks faded away. The rise of automation in the factory floors brought the importance of maintenance, design, and innovation to the forefront.

2. Agentic AI as a Collaborator: According to a recent survey by McKinsey, 65% of developers using AI agents report a significant increase in productivity. It’s not about a machine replacing you, but about enhancing what you can do—getting the monotonous out of the way so your mind can focus on the creative, the insightful, the human part of engineering. Picture a pilot: autopilot doesn't fly the plane alone; it's a tool that allows pilots to focus on critical decision-making. Similarly, AI agents are here to take care of the routine, freeing us to make higher order decisions.

3. Skill Gap and Opportunities: World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report highlighted that by 2027, there will be a surge in demand for roles such as AI trainers, human-machine interaction designers, and hybrid product managers. Prompt Engineer as a job category did not exist 3 years ago.

The truth is, AI agents aren't a shadow hanging over our jobs; they’re a flashlight, illuminating new possibilities—but only if we pick them up and use them. For example, in software development, AI agents have enabled developers to automate code reviews, identify bugs earlier, and even suggest improvements, freeing up time for creative problem-solving and innovation. So, where does that leave us? It leaves us with a choice.

The only way forward and upward

We need to upskill, reskill, and change our perspectives. Period.

The far bigger markets will be those where automation was previously limited to only a few companies due to cost and complexity.

Now, AI makes it accessible to a wider range of customers—whether it's small businesses gaining security capabilities for the first time or large enterprises expanding their marketing efforts efficiently. Here are some ways to do that:

• Master Prompting and Agent Tools: For testers, developers, and product managers, mastering AI prompt engineering—learning to leverage AI agents effectively—is becoming a critical skill. It's about guiding these AI "agents" to do your repetitive or data-heavy tasks, allowing you to focus on strategy and creativity. Examples of tools like OpenAI's GPT-based assistants, Microsoft's Copilot, and Google's Bard can help automate code generation, bug fixing, and even create test cases. Techniques such as prompt chaining, few-shot prompting, and context-aware prompting are essential to effectively harness the power of these agents. For more actionable learning, consider exploring online resources like OpenAI's documentation, Copilot's tutorials, or courses on AI prompt engineering available on platforms like Deeplearning.ai.

• Focus on Human-Centric Skills: Skills like empathy, critical thinking, storytelling, and problem framing are going to matter even more. The best product managers, developers, and testers will be those who can deeply understand user needs, break down complex issues, and communicate solutions effectively—all areas where AI agents fall short.

• Expand into Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Understanding machine learning basics, data analytics, or even design thinking could give you an edge. The era of being "just a developer" or "just a tester" is fading—it’s about embracing a blend of technology, creativity, and adaptability.

Key note: Stay away from snakeoil salesmen selling you "AI" tools and solutions, or "Course gurus" teaching you "Top 10 prompts to change your life". Working with AI technologies is a core skill, and follows the 10,000 hour rule too. Think of it like maths, where you dont learn it by watching but by doing.

If you want to try out Agentic frameworks, give a shot to Hercules. The idea is dont rest, this is the time to build your skills and solutions which will change the world.

AI won’t take your job, but someone else using AI agents just might. The solution is simple: be that someone.

If AI takes over your current job, don't despair. Instead, use the opportunity to level up and take on more challenging tasks. In the process, you'll give yourself a promotion and help everyone else move up as well.

Lets close, where we began. Here's a conversation, me and my friend Shriyansh Agnihotri

discuss pretty often:

Human: "Dear A.I., please dont take my job.."

A.I.: "What is a job? "

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff recently highlighted that they are planning to not hire any more software engineers in 2025, as they are multiplying the productivity with agents. Salesforce have started moving the support functions to Agentforce with www.help.salesforce.com (Source: https://www.thetwentyminutevc.com/marc-benioff-2). What happens to the displaced employees? They move to higher roles and responsibilities.

We’re not at the end of craftsmanship; we’re witnessing its evolution. The tools may change to agents, but human creativity, understanding, and passion will always be essential. We are witnessing the biggest wave of change after internet, so we need to make a choice, whether we will be drowned in it, or we will surf it.

If you have concerns, feel free to reach out—I'm here to help or listen.

One for all and all for one - Alexandre Dumas.