Tikkun Olam in the AI Era: Careers for a New World

Blessed be the jacks of all trades, for they shall inherit the jobs of the future.

This rallying cry echoes as students return to school and workers settle into routines. It reminds us of the Talmudic wisdom that ‘A person should always teach his son a clean and easy profession’ (Kiddushin 82a), though in our AI era, the definition of ‘clean and easy’ is rapidly evolving.

But what if we’re asking the wrong questions about AI’s impact on our careers?

To imagine our course forward, first look back. The word “career” springs from the Latin “carrus” (wheeled vehicle) and Middle French “carriere” (road or racecourse). In 1530s English, it meant “running at full speed”—like celestial bodies whisking across the sky. Only in the 1800s did it morph into the familiar “course of one’s professional life.”

This etymology reveals an enduring truth: a career has always been about movement, progression, and journey. A “career” historically possessed some elements of Brownian motion, much like the whirlwind changes we’re experiencing in our work lives today.

Now, the very concept of a career is announcing its strong preference for non-linearity. And this shift is met with a growing sense of relief from undergraduate and graduate students—AI promises an era of unprecedented career agility, personal growth, and job satisfaction.

AI emerges as a new life force for career flexibility. As automation takes on routine tasks, workers can explore diverse roles and industries. AI-powered learning platforms offer personalized skill development, enabling us to pivot careers more rapidly than ever before.

This shift normalizes non-linear career paths. AI-driven job matching highlights the value of diverse experiences, making unconventional careers more attractive to employers and fulfilling for employees. While email once introduced soul-crushing ubiquitous work, AI now offers ubiquitous career evolution. Even Wikipedia might evolve its understanding of notability and achievement, recognizing those who contribute across multiple domains.

A reduced workweek doesn’t have to mean decreased productivity. Instead, it can redistribute time, allowing for continuous learning, passion projects, and meaningful community contributions. The result? A more balanced, fulfilled workforce bringing fresh perspectives to new roles.

Standing on the cusp of this AI revolution, today’s workforce has the unique opportunity to redefine “career.” We can embrace a future of fluid, multifaceted journeys of constant learning and personal growth, rather than fixed courses or predetermined racetracks.

Ours isn’t a period of simply replacing humans or reducing work hours; it’s about augmenting our capabilities and freeing us to pursue meaningful work. By reframing our perspective, we transform the AI narrative from one of fear to opportunity. If we measured net happiness per capita, it might serve as a better proxy for future productivity than predictions about jobs lost due to AI.

Just as “career” evolved from a racecourse to life’s work, we should now redefine it once more. In the era of AI, a career recalibrates into a journey of continuous growth, diverse experiences, and the rediscovery of where your innermost talents lie waiting for embrace. It’s not about racing along a predetermined path, but crisscrossing an ever-changing landscape with purpose and agility.

The future of work isn’t about fewer jobs—it’s about more fulfilling lives. This aligns with the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, where each person’s diverse talents and experiences contribute to societal improvement.

As Benjamin Franklin, a serial entrepreneur and polymath with many capstones across myriad careers, said: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” In the age of AI, diversifying that investment across multiple fields may yield the greatest returns of all.