AI, Layoffs & Relevance at Work: Are We Falling Behind?You may not lose your job to AI. You might just quietly stagnate. Subha and Hasita on the uncomfortable middle ground most of us are sitting in: AI replacing teams, 'good enough' outputs becoming dangerous, and the human skills that suddenly matter more — not less — in 2026.Why are experienced professionals still in demand even as AI tools become more powerful? What happens when companies optimize too aggressively? And how do you stay relevant when the rules change every few months?The conversation moves through vibe coding, AI-generated websites, AI interviewers, consulting, coaching, content creation, and the growing importance of judgment, context, and human nuance.For mid-career professionals figuring out what to keep, what to delegate to AI, and what to learn next.00:00 The Stagnation Trap01:20 Why We Had to Have This Conversation02:43 Building with AI & vibe coding08:03 Why human experience still matters12:11 AI panic, layoffs & workplace relevance15:57 “You may not lose your job, but you may stagnate”19:33 Prompting, judgment & the future of work20:50 AI coaches, interviews & changing careers25:26 Leadership, expertise & navigating disruption29:06 The bigger societal impact of AI33:05 Read Watch ListenRelated episodes:→ S7E25 Who Are You Without Your Job Title? — what happens when AI dissolves your role→ S7E22 Dear 2026 — what we want from AI at work→ S7E20 Power Meets Nurturing with Nirupama Subramaniam — leadership without command-and-controlWhat’s changed most about your work because of AI? Are you optimistic, anxious, experimenting, or somewhere in the middle? Let us know in the comments.#AIatWork #FutureOfWork #CareerPodcast---------------------If this one landed, here's the one thing we'll ever ask: rate Small Talk on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Five seconds. It's the only signal that decides who else gets to hear us. Stay close🎧 Listen everywhere · https://www.pod.link/1531495902📺 YouTube · https://www.youtube.com/@smalltalkpod_wpb📷 Instagram · https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkpod_wpb🌐 https://www.smalltalkpod.com📩 Write to us: [email protected]📅 New episodes every fortnightSmall Talk: Work, Play, Build is a fortnightly podcast about careers, leadership, and the things we make outside our day jobs. Hosted by Subha Chandrasekaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/subhachandrasekaran/) (executive coach, founder of RainKraft) and Hasita Krishna (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasita/) (brand strategist, co-founder of Motley Crew). Seven seasons in, still about what it means to live a life that feels true — at work and outside it.© 2026 RainKraft Creative Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.