Hello, AI enthusiasts from around the world.
Welcome to this week's newsletter for the AI and the Future of Work podcast.

Conversations about AI and job loss are becoming more common. Many workers worry about relevance. Some fear being left behind.

These concerns are not abstract. They reflect real uncertainty about how work is changing.

This week’s episode focuses on a practical response. The future of work is not defined only by displacement. It is shaped by how individuals and organizations choose to adapt.

Reskilling is not optional in this environment. It is a strategic decision.

Let’s dive into this week’s highlights. 🚀

🎙️New podcast episode with Kourtney Cross, RiseUp Alum

Kourtney Cross hears the same concern again and again. Friends, former classmates, and coworkers worry that AI will replace their jobs and reduce their value.

He does not dismiss that concern. Parts of many roles can already be automated.

Kourtney also recognizes something else. He missed early waves of technology adoption in the past. This time, he chose a different approach.

Instead of resisting AI, he incorporated it into his daily work.

His role centers on data and financial analysis. Numbers tell the story of his clients’ performance. AI helps him process and organize that data efficiently. He uses it to surface patterns and reduce manual work.

That shift frees his attention for higher-value tasks. He spends more time interpreting results, advising clients, and making strategic decisions.

For Kourtney, AI does not replace his work. It changes where he adds value.

Kourtney is a Leidos business analyst and a graduate of RiseUP, a ServiceNow program that provides access to technology and career opportunities for those interested in upskilling and reskilling.

In this powerful and motivating conversation, Kourtney and PeopleReign CEO Dan Turchin explore what it means to leverage AI to make our jobs, and our lives, easier. But his story isn’t only about using AI. It’s a deeper look at what it takes to pivot a career, moving from credentials on paper to consistently delivering value.

In this conversation, they discuss this and much more:

• How Kourtney recognized a market shift, chose to lean in, and turned that decision into a defining career inflection point.

• What certifications actually do, and don’t do, in today’s job market, and how building and showcasing a hands-on project helped him stand out.

• Where AI should accelerate productivity, and where clear human boundaries still matter, especially in high-stakes areas like healthcare and admissions decisions.

• Why patience, resilience, and what Kourtney calls “compounded effort” matter more than credentials alone when breaking into tech and building long-term momentum.

🎧 This week's episode of AI and the Future of Work, featuring Kourtney Cross, RiseUp alum, inspired this issue.

Listen to the full episode to hear Kourtney explain how the relationship between AI and humans can drive compound growth and help people become better at their work.

📖 AI Fun Fact Article

How can organizations reskill and upskill employees in AI today? Kashyap Kompella explored this question in TechTarget and outlined 12 practical steps companies can follow to build real AI capability, not just surface-level adoption.

Here’s the framework:

1. Start with a skills audit

2. Develop a skilling roadmap

3. Redesign roles and update job descriptions

4. Unlearn before learning

5. Offer tailored and relevant training

6. Use AI platforms to accelerate learning

7. Upskill HR and enlist the C-suite

8. Nurture change management skills

9. Create a culture that values learning

10. Think like a university

11.  Use multiple tools

12. Train your ecosystem, not just your employeesy technology goes through this adoption cycle. In this case, the past is most certainly a prologue.

PeopleReign CEO Dan Turchin finds number 10 especially relevant to today’s conversation. It’s a strong list of “how” tactics. What matters even more is building a culture that embraces the “why” first.

Former guests like Gary Bowles, author of The Next Rules of Work, and Dr. John Boudreaux, author of Work Without Jobs, have shared perspectives on how work itself is changing, not only jobs. Consider an economy where skills, not careers, become the unit of value creation. Consider ad hoc teams of domain experts who come together in short sprints to deliver targeted outcomes.

Now is the time to reimagine the concept of work. It should be grounded in the idea that work is a source of meaning and purpose. While AI is destabilizing for many in the workforce, it also creates an important opportunity to question our personal “why.”

Worth A Read

Until next time, stay curious! 🤔

That's a Wrap for This Week!

This week’s conversation acknowledges a clear reality. Concern about AI and job loss exists. It deserves attention.

The episode also points to a practical response: in a changing labor market, relevance depends on adaptation. Learning how to work with AI expands your options.

Reskilling is not a new idea. What changes is the pace. The ability to update skills and apply them in context now carries greater weight.

We hope this discussion encourages you to invest in skills that increase your flexibility and judgment in an AI-shaped workplace.

Until next time, keep asking better questions. We’ll see you in the future of work.