From Writer to Therapist: How AI is Forcing a Career Shift
The rise of artificial intelligence is prompting individuals across various professions to reconsider their career paths, seeking roles less susceptible to automation. This is the reality for Jacqueline Bowman, a 30-year-classic writer who found her livelihood threatened by the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content.
Bowman, who had pursued writing since childhood and transitioned to freelancing at 26, experienced a significant downturn in perform starting in 2024. Clients began utilizing AI to produce content, often requesting her services as an editor to refine AI-generated text. However, this work proved to be more time-consuming and less financially rewarding than her previous writing assignments. She found herself spending double the time fact-checking and often rewriting articles that contained fabricated information, all whereas earning half her former rate.
The situation worsened to the point where Bowman could no longer afford her health insurance by January 2025. Recognizing the instability of a writing career in the age of AI, she decided to retrain for a more secure profession. Remembering a positive experience with a psychology elective in college, Bowman enrolled back at university to become a marriage and family therapist. She believes there will continue to be a demand for human therapists, as some individuals will be hesitant to seek help from AI-powered services.
Bowman isn’t alone in this career transition. Janet Feenstra, a former academic editor in Sweden, also opted for a career change due to fears that AI would render her skills obsolete. She now works at a bakery, finding enjoyment in a hands-on profession. While she appreciates the positive aspects of her new job, she acknowledges it was a change forced upon her by technological advancements, resulting in lower pay and more physically demanding work.
Similarly, Richard, a former occupational health and safety professional in the UK, retrained as an electrical engineer, anticipating that his previous field would become increasingly automated. He expressed concern that the implementation of AI in health and safety might prioritize cost-cutting over genuine safety measures.
