In a bold and unsettling forecast, Adam Dorr, Director of Research at RethinkX, has painted a future where most human jobs may no longer exist by 2045. In an interview with The Guardian, Dorr outlined how the relentless pace of AI and robotics development is fast rendering traditional human labor obsolete. According to his research—based on over 1,500 cases of historical technological disruptions—AI is following a well-trodden but accelerated trajectory: once a new tech takes hold, it replaces existing systems within 15 to 20 years.
This time, the target isn’t a tool or a technique—it’s human labor itself.
Three Jobs May Survive, But That’s Not Comforting
In a twist of irony, the three professions that Adam Dorr believes will withstand the AI onslaught are also among humanity’s oldest: politicians, sex workers, and ethicists. Their resilience lies not in resistance to change, but in their uniquely human foundations—power, intimacy, and morality.
Politics has existed in organized form since ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. At its core, governance is about navigating human complexity, building consensus, reading emotional undercurrents, and exercising judgment in unpredictable social environments. Despite advances in AI-generated policy simulation, leadership still hinges on trust, charisma, and interpersonal negotiation—qualities machines have yet to convincingly replicate.
Sex work, often called “the world’s oldest profession,” similarly depends on human connection, physical presence, and emotional nuance. While AI-powered companionship and virtual intimacy are on the rise, some experts might contend that the core experience of human closeness and vulnerability remains beyond artificial reproduction.
Ethicists, meanwhile, hold the moral compass of society. As we usher in powerful technologies capable of reshaping civilization, the need for ethical reasoning and philosophical guidance becomes more urgent—not less. Machines can process data, but they cannot weigh values, assess right and wrong in grey areas, or guide societies through moral dilemmas that lack precedent.
From a Work Economy to a Post-Work Society?
While the prediction is stark, Dorr isn't entirely pessimistic. He envisions a future defined not by scarcity but by “super-abundance,” where machines meet most human needs. But such a vision demands urgent and radical changes to how society defines work, value, and ownership.
“If we fail to act now,” Dorr cautions, “the consequences will be enormous—economic inequality on a scale we’ve never seen before.” He proposes bold experiments in social structure, such as universal basic income and new models of wealth distribution, to ensure that progress doesn’t leave humanity behind.
What AI Still Can’t Do
Interestingly, even as machines learn to perform complex medical diagnoses or develop apps on command, they continue to falter in one essential area: soft skills. Emotional intelligence, empathy, collaboration, and ethics—these remain stubbornly human domains. In a recent USA Today report, HR expert Madeline Mann noted that soft skills are now more important than ever. “It’s how people experience you,” she said. “That’s the edge AI can’t replicate.”
Even in the most technical fields, over 40% of in-demand skills are those AI still can’t master, such as critical thinking, adaptability, and authentic human communication.
The Ethical Bet of the Century
As AI systems inch closer to replacing cognitive labor at scale, the ethical dilemma becomes unavoidable: Just because we can replace humans—should we? And if we do, how do we preserve dignity, purpose, and human connection in a world run by machines?
Perhaps the real question is not about what AI can do, but what we choose to let it do. Because the biggest risk isn’t just job loss—it’s losing sight of what it means to be human.
This time, the target isn’t a tool or a technique—it’s human labor itself.
Three Jobs May Survive, But That’s Not Comforting
In a twist of irony, the three professions that Adam Dorr believes will withstand the AI onslaught are also among humanity’s oldest: politicians, sex workers, and ethicists. Their resilience lies not in resistance to change, but in their uniquely human foundations—power, intimacy, and morality.
Politics has existed in organized form since ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece. At its core, governance is about navigating human complexity, building consensus, reading emotional undercurrents, and exercising judgment in unpredictable social environments. Despite advances in AI-generated policy simulation, leadership still hinges on trust, charisma, and interpersonal negotiation—qualities machines have yet to convincingly replicate.
Sex work, often called “the world’s oldest profession,” similarly depends on human connection, physical presence, and emotional nuance. While AI-powered companionship and virtual intimacy are on the rise, some experts might contend that the core experience of human closeness and vulnerability remains beyond artificial reproduction.
Ethicists, meanwhile, hold the moral compass of society. As we usher in powerful technologies capable of reshaping civilization, the need for ethical reasoning and philosophical guidance becomes more urgent—not less. Machines can process data, but they cannot weigh values, assess right and wrong in grey areas, or guide societies through moral dilemmas that lack precedent.
"By 2045, there will be virtually nothing that a human can do that a machine can't do better for a tiny fraction of the cost" - Adam Dorr, RethinkX Director of Research. https://t.co/s9ReK4nS8W pic.twitter.com/T3AV17N6Sv
— RethinkX (@rethink_x) March 14, 2025
From a Work Economy to a Post-Work Society?
While the prediction is stark, Dorr isn't entirely pessimistic. He envisions a future defined not by scarcity but by “super-abundance,” where machines meet most human needs. But such a vision demands urgent and radical changes to how society defines work, value, and ownership.
“If we fail to act now,” Dorr cautions, “the consequences will be enormous—economic inequality on a scale we’ve never seen before.” He proposes bold experiments in social structure, such as universal basic income and new models of wealth distribution, to ensure that progress doesn’t leave humanity behind.
What AI Still Can’t Do
Interestingly, even as machines learn to perform complex medical diagnoses or develop apps on command, they continue to falter in one essential area: soft skills. Emotional intelligence, empathy, collaboration, and ethics—these remain stubbornly human domains. In a recent USA Today report, HR expert Madeline Mann noted that soft skills are now more important than ever. “It’s how people experience you,” she said. “That’s the edge AI can’t replicate.”
Even in the most technical fields, over 40% of in-demand skills are those AI still can’t master, such as critical thinking, adaptability, and authentic human communication.
The Ethical Bet of the Century
As AI systems inch closer to replacing cognitive labor at scale, the ethical dilemma becomes unavoidable: Just because we can replace humans—should we? And if we do, how do we preserve dignity, purpose, and human connection in a world run by machines?
Perhaps the real question is not about what AI can do, but what we choose to let it do. Because the biggest risk isn’t just job loss—it’s losing sight of what it means to be human.
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