#WorkMomSays the real risk isn’t AI, it’s how you respond to it. In this episode, Lori breaks down the growing fear around AI in the workplace and what the data actually says about job loss, hiring shifts, and future opportunities. 

She explains why entry-level roles are being impacted, what skills are becoming more valuable, and how to position yourself to stay relevant and employable. 

With a mix of realism and practical advice, Lori shows how adaptability, emotional intelligence, and AI literacy can help you navigate this shift without panic.

Time-stamped inflection points from the show

00:12 — Lori introduces the topic of AI and job security, sharing data on how different age groups perceive the risk of AI replacing their jobs.

01:23 — A breakdown of how AI adoption is already impacting hiring, especially for younger workers and entry-level roles.

02:23 — Conflicting expert opinions on whether AI will eliminate jobs or create more opportunities in the long term.

03:40 — The key traits that make employees more “AI-proof,” including critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.

05:03 — Why becoming AI literate is essential, and how learning to prompt and use AI tools can improve your employability.

02:28 — “AI is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s not there yet, but it will be there.”

03:40 — “So if you’re good, you’re in your position currently, and you’re doing your darndest to do your best work every day, you’re probably okay.”

04:56 — “Those are skills you can work on that will make you more employable during these times of AI threats.”

06:02 — “Bad prompts equal bad AI content.”

00:12
Hello, I’m Lori Jo Vest. Thank you so much for tuning in to this episode of Work Mom Says, Don’t Be an Idiot. I am here today to talk about AI. Will AI take our jobs? Let’s talk about it. There are so many things happening out there right now related to AI that I really want to dig into it, talk through some statistics and some realities that we all need to consider in the workplace right now. The fear is valid. But here’s the data. 18 to 24 year olds are 129% more likely than those over the age of 65 to worry that AI will make their job obsolete. Makes sense. If you’re over 65 you’re probably maybe going to retire, or, you know, you’re dug in, you’re not going to really have to look 10 years out, which is what a young person has to do. 49% of Gen Z job seekers feel that AI has reduced the value of their college degree and entry level job postings are down by roughly 35% since January of 2023.

01:23
Yeah, there is a lot happening in the AI space right now. There’s a lot of big talk about what it has potential to do in most workplaces and most industries. There’s a lot that it can do, and there’s also things that it can’t do. So let’s get into what’s actually happening. Companies that are adopting AI into their workflows cut junior hiring by 13% according to Cornell University, and employment for workers aged 22 to 25 in those AI-exposed roles like, you know, copywriting, accounting — there’s a lot of things AI can do — those AI-exposed roles fell by 6% between 2022 and 2025. Young software developers saw a drop of nearly 20%. That’s huge. That’s something to think about, that’s something to look at currently.

02:23
Right now, it’s April 13, 2026. I am of the belief that AI is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s not there yet, but it will be there, and when it gets there, it’s going to be a little crazy. Our digital agency, we’ve attempted to use some AI to do some programming. It’s not there. It requires a lot of adjustment to make it what you want it to be, even if you do get a good starting point. And sometimes it just doesn’t work. So let’s talk about what the experts are saying. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei — A-M-O-D-E-I — warned that AI could eliminate 50% of entry level white collar jobs within five years, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Wong pushed back. Historically, greater productivity leads to more hiring, not less. So it’s a little crazy, but there are organizations that are actually predicting that 92 million jobs will be displaced by AI by 2030, but 170 million new ones will be created. That makes sense. AI is suppressing hiring more than destroying existing jobs out there.

03:40
So if you’re good, you’re in your position currently, and you’re doing your darndest to do your best work every day, you’re probably okay. AI probably won’t come in and replace you. If you’re slacking, you may be replaced by someone who can simply do a better job and is more committed than you are. But both of those CEOs, the Anthropic CEO and the Nvidia CEO, can be right. It could eliminate jobs. It may make more hiring happen, but neither one is helping you right now, right? So as a worker in this economy in 2026, what I would say is that most protected workers, those who are going to maintain their positions, are really good at critical thinking. They have emotional intelligence, which is what we talk about on this show. They are creative, they’re adaptable, and they have cross-functional expertise. So you want to make sure that you fit into those categories. Are you a critical thinker? Do you actually display emotional intelligence? Are you calm? Are you committed to your job? Are you adaptable? Are you able to pivot when that needs to happen without a lot of drama? Those are skills you can work on that will make you more employable during these times of AI threats.

05:03
We also hear that 40% of core job skills will change by 2030, but 60% won’t. So that’s a pretty significant chunk that will not change in the next three years. Now, once we get past that, things are going to change, of course. So what you want to do right now is you want to make sure that you are AI literate. And what that means is that you know how AI works. You’ve dove into the tools. You’ve tried them for different things. You have experimented with visuals, with programming, maybe with numbers. You’ve used it in a lot of different ways so you have an idea what it does. That is something you can do right now on your own. You don’t need to learn to code, but what you do need to learn to do is to prompt and direct AI in ways that are meaningful and in ways that let it give you the kind of data and information that you want it to give you. Bad prompts equal bad AI content, you know, bad AI whatever it is you’re creating. So make sure that you are learning how to use the tools, even if you’re not really pro. I’m not a huge fan. I think that I would much rather see human content, human workers doing the work. I think AI is overrated. That will change, and so we darn well better get ready for it. So you definitely want to include AI in your five year plan.

06:32
So 2026 to 2031 is when career transitions are expected to peak. You want to plan for adaptability. You’re not going to look for a specific title. I want to be a marketing strategist. You might want to be a marketing strategist, but you are also willing to do some account work and some project management. Maybe you want to be a certain type of accountant. You may need to be flexible in how you use those skills and what particular jobs you’re interested in taking so that you’re adaptable. Titles don’t matter. What matters is your personal revenue, your stability and your happiness in your job. Those are the three things that really, really matter more than anything else. So if you ever feel like you get passed over for a promotion or a manager tells you they’re restructuring due to AI, seriously ask questions, because if you don’t, you’re not going to have the information you need to move forward, right? So ask what skills your boss needs as AI causes restructuring, document the wins you’ve had in those areas that are important. Where have you shown strong problem solving skills? Where have you shown strong ability to resolve conflict or tamp down drama? Where have you been winning and make sure that your boss knows about that, and then build visible AI fluency before the next restructuring. So make sure that you are trying the tools to see how they work in your workplace, if that’s allowed — only if it’s allowed, right? It may not be, but if it is, see how it can contribute and help you with your job.

08:19
Just to give you an example, we don’t do a lot of AI copy because AI copy can be, you know, it’s very obvious. So what we do in a lot of cases is we will ask AI for creative ideas. We’ll ask for outlines. We’ll ask for it to write headlines, subheads, ideas for April Fool’s Day content for our clients. So there’s a lot of things that you can do. So think about in your position how AI might be helpful to you, and see if you can experiment. Because that’s one of the things that is going to again make you more employable, is knowing what’s happening in the world, knowing how it’s going to impact your industry, your career field, your position, and adapting accordingly. So I believe in you. I know you can do this. I know you can stay employed. I know that AI is going to move things around, but I prefer to pay attention to the second CEO, the guy from Nvidia, who said that historically greater productivity leads to more hiring, not less. So go into it with that attitude.

09:31
So that’s what I’ve got for you today. Thank you so much for joining me for this episode of Work Mom Says, Don’t Be an Idiot. If you are watching on YouTube, please subscribe. Hit that subscribe button. Maybe give me a like and a share or comment something to help me get bigger numbers there. We’re trying to reach as many people as possible with the Work Mom EQ assistance to help you actually achieve more success and less drama in your career. So thanks again. I’ll be back soon.

This podcast is for young professionals who want to learn to play the emotional context sport of business and experience less drama and more success.

How can you be more logical and less emotional? Be strategic, and Work Mom Says can help you.

“I tell people to back up, put down the magnifying glass, and look at the big picture when you’re responding to something,” said Lori Jo Vest, Work Mom. “In doing this, you will understand that what’s really upsetting you right now will be something you don’t even remember next week.”

Listening to Work Mom Says can help you grow your mood management skills, grow your ability to reframe situations, and look at things from a strategic point of view. This makes it easier to go into a work situation and get the most positive results.

On Work Mom Says, we also offer tips and tricks for creating connected positive relationships that last over time. People will want you on the team if you can create connected positive relationships and work environments. You become an asset, and you will be more successful when you’re an asset.

“I also like to talk about developing traits like optimism, persistence, tenacity, stick-to-itiveness, sticking with things, and approaching every project with a curious mind instead of a fearful mind,” said Lori Jo Vest, Work Mom

I do this because I naturally fell into the Work Mom role when I worked in the ad agency business and had so much fun with it. I also realized I had made just about every mistake there was to make. I don’t hold myself as a stellar example of truth and how you should be. I hold myself out there as someone who has been bruised, battered, and beaten up and learned some important lessons. I’d love to share these lessons with young people, so they don’t have to make those same mistakes or be the idiot I was.

I also want to help young professionals realize that many things our culture prioritizes aren’t really important. We talk a lot about what should be important and how to present your best face at the office so that you can succeed.

I’ve learned so much throughout my career, and it’s gratifying to share that with young professionals and help them avoid some of those mistakes and get to that success sooner.

Connect with me on LinkedIn. Order my book!

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