I AGENTS DEBATE: These Jobs Won't Exist In 24 Months

About this video

Steven Bartlett is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and host of The Diary of a CEO, known for turning candid, modern business storytelling into a major media brand. Amjad Masad is the founder and CEO of Replit, Brett Weinstein is an evolutionary biologist and public intellectual, and Daniel Priestley is an entrepreneur and author known for helping businesses build influence and commercial momentum.

The emerging signal is not simply that AI is getting better—it is that AI agents are starting to perform multi-step work autonomously, turning many forms of digital labour into software. The debate in this discussion is less about whether AI will be disruptive and more about how quickly organisations can adapt to a world where routine knowledge work becomes dramatically cheaper and more accessible.

For SME operators, the practical question is no longer "Should we use AI?" but "Which parts of our business become AI-assisted, and which parts remain distinctly human?" The opportunity is significant productivity growth; the risk is falling behind competitors who learn to operate with AI-enhanced workflows.

Full Video at the end of page

Core Insight (Plain English)

A shift is underway from AI as a tool that answers questions to AI as a worker that can complete tasks.

The discussion highlights the rise of AI agents—systems that can be given a goal and then continue working across multiple steps, tools, and websites until they complete the task or need assistance. Examples discussed include ordering products, building software, processing information, generating content, and coordinating business activities.

The business assumption being challenged is: "Work scales primarily through hiring people."

Increasingly, certain categories of work may scale through software agents instead.

This does not necessarily eliminate businesses or entrepreneurs. Rather, it changes where value comes from. Access to software creation, automation, and business capabilities is becoming dramatically cheaper and more widely available.

What this means for operators

1. Routine digital work is becoming vulnerable

Tasks that are highly structured, repetitive, and primarily involve moving information between systems face the greatest risk of automation.

Operators should map which activities in their business are "text in, text out" workflows and assume these will become increasingly automated.

2. AI literacy may become a competitive advantage
The discussion repeatedly suggests that people who learn how to work with AI will outperform those who ignore it.
For SMEs, this means training existing staff may be more valuable than waiting for perfect solutions.

3. Business creation costs are falling
The ability to create websites, software, workflows, content, and automation with minimal coding knowledge lowers barriers to experimentation.
Operators can test products, services, and new revenue streams faster and cheaper than before.

4. Human judgment becomes more important, not less
While AI can generate outputs, someone still needs to define goals, verify results, manage risk, and make decisions.
The practical implication is that management, judgement, relationship-building, and strategic thinking may become more valuable than execution alone.

5. Trust becomes a business asset
The discussion raises concerns around scams, deepfakes, impersonation, and misinformation.
As synthetic content becomes easier to generate, customers may place greater value on trusted brands, verified relationships, and authentic human interactions.

6. The biggest risk may be organizational inertia
Many SMEs assume AI adoption is optional.
The larger risk may be competitors using AI to deliver faster service, lower costs, and more experimentation while others continue operating with traditional workflows.

Practical watchpoints

Monitor the following over the next 12–24 months:

1. Administrative workflow automation

   • Data entry

   • Reporting

   • Document preparation

   • Internal process management

2. Customer expectations

   • Faster response times

   • Personalised service

   • Always-available support

3. Trust and verification risks

   • Deepfake scams

   • AI-generated fraud

   • Identity verification requirements

4. Talent shifts

   • Demand for AI-enabled employees

   • Reduced demand for purely routine digital work

   • Greater value placed on adaptability and problem-solving

5. Competitor adoption

   • Which competitors are using AI to lower operating costs

   • Which are launching products faster

   • Which are improving customer experience with AI-enhanced workflows

Summary & Reflections

The signal is real, but the timeline remains uncertain.

The discussion presents both optimistic and skeptical perspectives. One side argues AI agents will unlock unprecedented productivity and entrepreneurship. The other argues that complex systems create unpredictable consequences that society may not fully understand until after disruption occurs.

For SMEs, it is unnecessary to resolve the broader debate about AGI, consciousness, or long-term societal outcomes.

The more immediate question is operational: If AI can perform portions of knowledge work at very low cost, how should your business adapt?

Operators should avoid two mistakes:

• Assuming AI changes nothing.

• Assuming AI solves everything.

The practical path is controlled experimentation combined with healthy skepticism.

Regional Consideration (Southeast Asia)

This signal may be particularly relevant in Southeast Asia because many SMEs compete on labor efficiency, service responsiveness, and operational flexibility. AI could strengthen firms that quickly integrate automation into existing workflows, but uneven digital adoption across industries and countries may create significant capability gaps.

Who should watch the full video

• SME owners

• Startup founders

• Operations managers

• Technology decision-makers

• HR and workforce planning leaders

• Professional service firms (legal, accounting, consulting)

• Marketing and digital transformation leaders

Decision Rating

Decision Usefulness: ★★★★★
This discussion directly affects how SMEs think about staffing, productivity, automation, and competitive positioning. Operators can immediately use these insights to evaluate workflows that may be automated or augmented.

Strategic Value: ★★★★★
The conversation challenges fundamental assumptions about how businesses create value, scale operations, and compete. Even if timelines vary, the strategic implications are substantial.

Risk Awareness: ★★★★☆
The discussion highlights meaningful risks around job displacement, fraud, trust erosion, and overreliance on technology. While some concerns are speculative, the broader risk categories are highly relevant for business planning.

Until next time,
The SME Signal editorial Team

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