Earlier this year, Paul, a public sector technical manager, discovered via media reports that his business group faced job cuts due to AI integration. This was his second restructuring after 2024. Despite training in AI and advocating for AI-assisted roles, he now fears his entire team will be replaced. With a child on the way and a new house, the timing is devastating.
Fobo: The Growing Fear of Becoming Obsolete
Psychologists Dave Winsborough and Gaynor Parkin describe Paul's experience as Fobo—fear of becoming obsolete. Recent commentary notes this is a rising workplace anxiety as people worry their roles will become irrelevant due to technology. Paul sought help to navigate career next steps and cope with emotional fallout.
Constraints include widespread job cuts in his field and no financial buffer for retraining. Even retraining offers no guarantee against AI replacement in new roles.
Expert Advice: Prepare Actively, Don't Dwell on Doom
MIT Future Tech researchers found that predictions of AI-driven doom are inaccurate. Instead, workers should view AI as a rising tide—visible and preparable. Paul is already doing this by seeking help.
Dr Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic and Dr Reece Akhtar recommend cultivating uniquely human skills: curiosity (seek new learning and perspectives), humility (self-awareness and feedback), and emotional intelligence (empathy and connection). AI learns through feedback; humans can too.
Network and Collaborate
Staying connected with others is crucial. Paul prioritizes talking with colleagues, attending events, and reverse mentoring with tech-savvy peers. He shows compassion for his team's distress while managing his own anxiety.
Seek Out the Best Organizations
Actively seek organizations that use AI strategically and have strong cultures. AI accelerates organizational factors, so pre-existing culture can make or break an AI rollout. For Paul, validating the fear while enhancing human skills and staying connected is the best strategy against Fobo.
*Paul is an amalgam of several people; details changed for privacy. Gaynor Parkin is a clinical psychologist at Button Psychology. Dave Winsborough is an organizational psychologist.
