#129 If AI Takes Our Jobs… What’s Left for Humanity? - BigDeal Recap

Podcast: BigDeal

Published: 2026-03-18

What Happened

Cody Sanchez initiates a provocative discussion about the implications of AI outperforming humans in various tasks like writing, drawing, coding, and diagnosing diseases. She posits that while AI can execute tasks with superior efficiency, it lacks the human capacity for meaning-making and narrative understanding, which is crucial for emotional connection.

Sanchez highlights the disparity between different groups in society, suggesting that hyper-curious people will thrive in the AI era, while those who are uninterested or disengaged will falter. She warns of a potential rise in unemployment rates to 10% or 20%, drawing parallels with the Great Depression, and stresses the importance of understanding AI to secure future employment.

She emphasizes that the essence of being human in the AI age lies in our ability to create meaningful narratives and emotional connections, aspects that AI cannot replicate. Sanchez argues that while AI can generate vast amounts of content, it lacks the emotional depth and personal investment that humans bring to storytelling and decision-making.

Sanchez advocates for the ownership of attention and building direct, meaningful relationships with audiences as key strategies for creators and entrepreneurs to maintain relevance. She cites tools like Beehive, which allow creators to publish and monetize content independently of algorithmic control, as essential for maintaining authenticity.

The discussion extends to the concept of 'taste' as a differentiator in a world where AI can produce content at an unprecedented scale. Sanchez argues that taste involves knowing what not to do and making judicious choices, which requires lived experience and emotional depth that AI lacks.

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to not only use AI as a tool to amplify their impact but also to retain their creativity, curiosity, and personal agency. Sanchez warns against outsourcing critical thinking to AI, urging individuals to engage with the world creatively and authentically, leveraging their unique human experiences and insights.

Key Insights