Strategies for Positioning your Value in an AI Frenzied Economy
5 accessible strategies to leverage your humanity against LLMs
Like most people, I’ve been listening to and entertaining a lot of conversions around AI/LLMs. The PR push that AI will steal all our jobs is mostly unfounded when you actually start using the bots. Of course, this depends on what industry you are in, but if you are skilled at anything, simply ask it to do what you do, and you will quickly see it’s mediocre at best.
If it happens to be good because you are in coding, data or stats analysis, it’s still obvious that it needs a human with a keen eye to guide it and correct it. The average LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini etc) is quite literally average, and while you can “teach it,” it’s far from independent. At best, it's like training a stubborn intern.
In thinking about how to position myself as a creative and strategist, I realized that my biggest value propositions are human. When I think about the clients I help in my consulting—they too are human, and unsurprisingly, the reason people buy or book them largely has to do with their humanity.
This brought me to reflect on strategies for repositioning your humanity in the AI-frenzied economy without leaning into the lazy “human-made” marketing BS.
It’s time to lean into your privilege
Use your relationships and reputation
LLMs cannot compete with your relationships and the reputation you have with those people. While it could develop a cold email strategy to collaborate with other people and companies, it’s likely going to take longer and use more resources than if you already knew and were trusted by a person there.
All relationships are valuable, not just ex-coworkers but friends, family, parents of your kids, friends etc. Think about how vast your IRL network actually is, the industries you have access to through them and how you could leverage that for yourself and future employers/collaborators.
Lastly, don’t forget to think about what these relationships teach you and the cross-industry insights you are able to tap into easily because of it.
That invaluable data!
Leverage the intersection of your identities
LLMs cannot compete with your multitudes. What makes you unique is your perspective, where you come from and where you are going. Think about how your multiple identities would be of value for this position.
Usually, we are told to think of identities in terms of marginalized or not, but I’m begging you to dig deeper.
Are you white from an upper-class background and know exactly what your WASPy dad would think about this company’s offer who fits his target market?
Are you a middle-class single mom who grew up religious and knows what it feels like to break arbitrary rules and be an outsider?
Are you part of a marginalized group and can connect specific dots because of it?
All identities give you unique perspectives and insights. Your race, culture, background, relationship status, religious or spiritual connections—they can all speak to your relevance as a person and for a company. Not just how aligned or not you are with their target market, but where they get funding, who they collaborate with or how they pitch their ideas.
Position the subcultures you follow as strengths
LLMs cannot compete with the potency of data found in subcultures. I’m not just talking about the Queer rave scene or BIPOC art markets here. I’m saying, what subcultures are you actively invested in?
Do you click every article about an A24 movie, obsessed with fringe comedy or knit patterns from the 70s? The hobbies you entertain and the subcultures they tap you into are more valuable than you think.
If you are obsessed with politics, medieval literature and poetry—I’d bet you have some really hot takes on the current economy.
If you love niche Discord channels, industrial music and romantic comedies, I’d bet you’re able to make some interesting as fuck connections between all three.
Subcultures are where cultural shifts start. They hold concentrated data about the future of people, tech, money, and how people are spending their time and attention.
Learn to tell a good, unorthodox story
LLMs cannot compete with a good, complex, funny and unorthodox story. Not only are they basic af in their linear suggestions, but they are trained to take the road MOST travelled.
Look back and think about the ways in which you’ve broken the mold, taken a less traditional route and have gotten above optimal results—or fallen on an even more profitable surprise.
We should not compete against the fast and mediocre results of an LLM but instead position as spotting opportunities where AI cannot—the real world.
Did you once gain a new client by talking to the barista? Maybe you solved a company problem by using a knit strategy or implemented a new email technique you saw in a foreign movie. The point is that a good story positions you as a hero who solves a problem with ease instead of friction.
Get comfortable saying no and spotting weak logic
LLMs are productive yes men—they cannot compete with your no. Get comfortable having boundaries and asking more questions before taking on a task or project. Make it known that you value quality results over busy work.
Understand that the biggest threat to any business (big or small) is wasted resources. Treat every ask or task from a boss as a project.
Asking more questions positions you as a valuable collaborator.
What problem is this speaking to?
Is it an actual problem or a perception?
What is the desired result?
What company goal does this speak to?
What is the deadline and why?
Who else is involved in working towards this final result?
Is there a faster, more efficient way to solve this problem?
I know from experience that not all bosses will welcome this type of collaboration, as most managers and coordinators think their job is task delegation when in reality they should be delegating the responsibility of results.
While I know the job market is tough right now, save yourself the burnout and get hired by someone who wants your opinion, skillset and strategic thinking. Otherwise, you will become inherently replaceable.
As a person leaning into strategy full-time, I am seeing that the AI frenzy is revealing just how little people understand about business, marketing and strategy. We are so often trying to get ahead to a result we haven’t properly defined.
In realizing this, I actually think the employees most at risk of losing relevance right now are middle managers who delegate tasks instead of results.
AI can delegate, but it can’t do. Employees who can execute results efficiently are most likely to get a raise. Now get yourself a boss or client smart enough to understand that. That’s the only one worth working for ;)
Can’t wait to tell someone mid debate that they have weak logic