{"id":91525,"date":"2026-03-09T08:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessesgrow.com\/?p=91525"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:30:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:30:27","slug":"ai-shaped-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businessesgrow.com\/2026\/03\/09\/ai-shaped-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten ways to create an AI-shaped career"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AI-shaped<\/p>\n

You and I are living in an era of magic. I use AI nearly every hour of the day to be wiser, bolder, and more creative.<\/p>\n

In a way, AI has even become my mentor.<\/p>\n

That might sound strange, but hear me out.<\/p>\n

I wrote a post recently noting that this question: “Who decides the safe limits of superintelligence?<\/a>” could be a turning point in human history.<\/p>\n

As I wrote the draft of this post, I felt angry and even scared about the prospects of weaponizing AI, and this was apparent in the tone of the article.<\/p>\n

I uploaded the draft to Claude before I published and asked, “Is this post balanced? Did I miss anything?”<\/p>\n

Claude responded, “Mark, this is not you. Your thesis is emotional and underdeveloped. You are known for your fairness and intellectual honesty. Here are some ideas to make it better.”<\/p>\n

And the ideas were pretty harsh … and much appreciated.<\/p>\n

I generally work alone. In this case, AI wasn’t just a muse or editor; it intervened as a wise friend, keeping me on brand. AI is helping me to be wiser, bolder, and more helpful in this world.<\/p>\n

I have neither turned my life over to AI and nor do I feel threatened by it. My career has become AI-shaped, conforming to the new superpowers and opportunities of a magical technology.<\/p>\n

Instead of doomscrolling about layoffs, how can we all create an AI-shaped career?<\/p>\n

Creating the AI-shaped career<\/h2>\n

Let’s start with some advice from my friend Azeem Azhar. Azeem is probably the most connected person I know, and so he’s able to tune into the priorities of a wide range of industries.\u00a0 and his supremely interesting Exponential View Newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is his advice:<\/p>\n

1. Ship end-to-end projects<\/h3>\n

\"100Choose or create multi-step projects with real stakeholders; practice owning the plan and delivering it to a finish line. If AI takes on more of the execution work, the value for humans lies increasingly in coordination around those tasks, specifically in orchestration. It\u2019s the ability to decide what needs to be done, in what order, and with which tools, and then keep a project moving.<\/p>\n

2. Grab managerial experience early<\/h3>\n

Run standups, lead sprints, and coordinate small teams if you have a chance. Volunteer to own small scopes like roadmap reviews and stakeholder check?ins, to build judgment and trust.<\/p>\n

3. Build domain fluency and networks<\/h3>\n

Learn how people in your field think and speak. It signals maturity and reduces perceived hiring risk. Read primary sources and talk to operators. Join a niche community or meetup and ask specific questions.<\/p>\n

4. Choose costly and credible signals, such as an MBA<\/h3>\n

Managers want evidence of commitment. If a degree isn\u2019t feasible, pick rigorous alternatives \u2013 selective fellowships, competitive certifications, or shipping a demanding public project.<\/p>\n

5. Use AI well<\/h3>\n

Build agents, audit outputs, and integrate them into real workflows. You could be the person who sets the AI standard at your next company \u2013 we\u2019re still early, and practical expertise is scarce. Track gains (time saved, error rates, throughput) and document playbooks so others can adopt them. Push for small, safe pilots and iterate fast.<\/p>\n

The implications for sales and marketing<\/h2>\n

Let’s get more granular. Most of the people reading this article are in sales and marketing. How do we have an AI-shaped career in that profession?<\/p>\n

6. Become impossible to replace in customer relationships<\/h3>\n

AI may automate tasks, but trust, empathy, and emotional resonance are still the human differentiators.
\nPeople want to buy from, partner with, and follow humans they feel connected to.<\/p>\n