What Happens When AI Outpaces Humanity?

Technological change is accelerating fast. In this episode of The Go-to-Market Podcast, host Amy Cook talks with Jason Lowe, a professor, public speaker, and AI expert, about how AI is reshaping work, the economy, and go-to-market motions. Lowe likens today’s AI shift to the arrival of gunpowder because it expands what is possible for business and daily life. Progress is moving faster than most teams can adapt, which creates both opportunity and risk.

“If you’re comfortable using AI to do your job better, you’re gonna last longer,” Jason says. “If you’re not comfortable or you’re scared of it, you better change, or you’re gonna be a horse trainer in a Model T world. It’s just not going to be very good for you.”

AI is reshaping white- and blue-collar work at the same time

Past industrial shifts unfolded over decades, and workers had time to move into new roles. This cycle is different. AI is automating analytical and administrative tasks while robotics expands in warehouses and on factory floors.

Jason notes the pace will feel disruptive. Many organizations already see routine knowledge work changing, while physical operations add more automation each quarter.

This compression makes it harder for the economy to create new roles as fast as old ones disappear. Companies need a comprehensive AI in GTM strategy and a clear view of AI vs. machine learning vs. predictive analytics to match the right tool to the job. Leaders should also learn how to prepare your GTM motion for AI-to-AI engagement as automated systems become part of everyday workflows.

Master the Five Cs to Stay Relevant

You will not out-compute a model. You can out-learn it, out-question it, and make better decisions with it. Lowe frames the human edge around five core skills that map directly to how teams will work with AI.

1. Communication: The ability to write and speak clearly to people and to the AI agents you will use.
2. Collaboration: Work smoothly in mixed teams of humans and AI, assigning tasks to each for best results.
3. Creativity: Generate novel options, test new approaches, and combine ideas in useful ways.
4. Curiosity: Ask better questions, try new inputs, and explore alternatives that increase insight.
5. Critical Thinking: Check outputs, spot weak logic, and direct revisions. AI can be “a little sycophantic,” so humans must provide the guardrails.

These skills are essential for GTM leaders who want to set the agenda, including those exploring how marketers can lead with AI. Tools like Fullcast Copy.ai can handle repetitive content so teams can spend more time on strategy and creative problem solving.

Build Your AI Foundation Now

Lowe recommends a process-first view. Identify the workflows where AI can reliably remove friction now, and design the data, policies, and guardrails that will support more advanced use cases later.

Move past one-off experiments by learning how to integrate AI into your core GTM workflows. Start by challenging functional leads to identify and automate repetitive tasks with AI and run pilots that prove value, such as a high-impact AI pilot for account-based marketing. Companies that commit to this approach, like Udemy, are already reducing planning time and building momentum.

Final Thoughts

This is a moment for leadership, not wait-and-see. The latest 2025 Benchmarks Report shows large execution gaps across the market, and a workable AI strategy is one of the fastest ways to close them.

FAQ Preparing for AI Job Disruption

1. Why is the current AI shift disrupting jobs faster than past industrial changes? 

The current AI shift is disrupting jobs faster because it is automating analytical white-collar tasks and physical blue-collar tasks simultaneously. Unlike past industrial shifts that unfolded over decades, this compression gives workers and companies less time to adapt and reskill, making the pace feel more disruptive.

2. How is AI reshaping both white-collar and blue-collar work at the same time? 

AI is reshaping both white-collar and blue-collar work at the same time by automating routine knowledge work in offices while robotics technology expands in physical operations like warehouses and factory floors. This dual impact shortens the timeline for the entire economy to adapt, as both administrative and manual roles are changing concurrently.

3. What skills do GTM leaders need to stay relevant in the age of AI? 

To stay relevant in the age of AI, GTM leaders need to master five core human-centric skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. These skills, called the “Five Cs,” are essential for guiding, questioning, and partnering with AI systems to produce better outcomes and provide necessary human guardrails.

4. What is the first step for a GTM leader to integrate AI into their team’s workflow? 

The first step for a GTM leader to integrate AI is to treat it as core infrastructure by identifying one specific workflow where AI can reliably remove friction now. Instead of one-off experiments, leaders should challenge their teams to automate a meaningful slice of a repetitive task, run a pilot to prove its value, and use that win as a new baseline for execution.

5. Why is the current AI shift compared to the invention of gunpowder? 

The current AI shift is compared to the invention of gunpowder because it fundamentally expands the realm of what is possible for business and daily life. Like gunpowder, AI is a transformative technology that creates vast new capabilities, presenting both immense opportunities for those who adapt and significant risks for those who fall behind.