If AI Did Everything, What Would We Do?
I Imagine Living in a world where AI does Everything.
It’s funny to think about how quickly we adapted. One day, we were rushing to work, checking our to-do lists, and complaining about the grind. The next, everything just… stopped. AI took over.
Not just the mundane stuff like ordering groceries or answering emails, but everything.
It runs the hospitals, manages the economy, builds infrastructure, cleans the oceans, and even educates our children. Now that we’re in this world where AI handles all the essential jobs, I can’t help but wonder: What do we do now?
It’s a strange feeling. There’s no need to hustle anymore, no alarm clock buzzing in my ear, no deadlines looming over my head. I’m free. Completely, utterly free. But with all this freedom, I can’t shake the nagging question: what’s the point? What’s my purpose now?
AI Handles Everything
I used to work in finance, populating spreadsheets, analyzing data, all the usual corporate stuff. But AI does it better. Faster. Smarter. It can predict trends, formulate the perfect reports, and execute strategies with precision I could never match. And it’s not just finance; AI outperforms humans in everything.
Hospitals? AI doctors diagnose and treat with flawless accuracy. Engineers? AI builds cities in half the time with none of the inefficiencies. Even agriculture is managed by AI-driven systems that monitor every detail, ensuring crops grow with optimal yield and minimum waste.
At first, it was exciting to watch AI solve the world’s biggest problems. Hunger? Solved. Pollution? Reduced. Climate change? AI is on it, creating solutions we could barely imagine. Wars? Well, without the struggle over resources or power (since AI manages those), conflict doesn’t seem as appealing. It’s incredible. It’s utopia. But now that the world is functioning perfectly, where does that leave us, homo sapiens?
The Void of Purpose
I never realized how much of my identity was wrapped up in doing something; something that mattered, at least to me. My job was more than just a paycheck; it was a push to get up, a reason to excel myself. It was purpose, packaged in project deadlines and performance reviews. I didn’t love it, but it gave my days structure, and more than that, it gave me a sense of contribution.
But now that AI does everything essential, that purpose is gone. AI doesn’t need me. The world doesn’t need me. In a way, it’s like we’ve solved all the problems that once defined us. We’ve eradicated the struggles that gave humanity its drive to innovate, to fight, to survive. So, without a crisis to solve, without work to do, what are we left with?
It turns out, we humans aren’t built for this kind of freedom; not in the way we imagined, anyway.
Chasing New Meanings
So, what do we do with our time? At first, people embraced the freedom. Creativity flourished. Everyone started painting, writing, learning new skills. There was an explosion of art, philosophy, and exploration. We could pursue passions without worrying about money, because AI managed the economy and ensured everyone had enough. It was like the Renaissance on steroids.
But after a while, even that started to lose its luster. When you don’t have to do anything, everything starts to feel optional. Meaningless, even. Some of the people I know started dabbling in hobbies but quickly gave up. With no external pressure, no deadlines, no real consequences for inaction, many just drifted. We don’t need to work to survive, so there’s no urgency. The question of “What do I want to do today?” becomes overwhelming when you have infinite choices and no constraints.
It’s a strange paradox: we fought for centuries to eliminate labor, to create machines that would free us from toil; and now that we’re free, we’re lost. It turns out that striving gave us purpose. It’s in the struggle to achieve, to overcome obstacles, that we find meaning. And without struggle, well, the days just bleed into each other.
The Rise of Existential Crises
Now, conversations are less about work and more about purpose. People ask each other, “What are you working on?” but it’s not about a job; it’s about their latest self-imposed challenge. Some have turned to extreme hobbies: marathon running, learning obscure languages, climbing mountains. Others throw themselves into virtual realities, creating elaborate worlds where they can pretend to live lives full of struggle and purpose.
A lot of people, though, are stuck in an existential loop. Without the need to work, without survival as a motivator, they question the point of everything. Why bother creating art if AI can produce masterpieces in seconds? Why learn to cook when AI can deliver a gourmet meal with zero effort? Why push yourself when the world doesn’t require it?
For some, the answer has been to withdraw entirely. I’ve seen people sink into apathy, numbing themselves with distractions; immersive virtual worlds, endless entertainment, or mindless scrolling through feeds of AI-generated content. There’s no shame in it; after all, what else is there to do when all the important stuff is handled for you?
What Does Being Human Mean Now?
This is the core question that keeps coming up. In a world where AI does everything, what does it mean to be human? Our entire history has been shaped by the need to adapt, to solve problems, to survive. We’ve been defined by our work, by the contributions we make to society. But when those contributions are no longer needed; when AI is the one solving all the problems, what’s left for us?
Some say that this is the ultimate opportunity to evolve. Maybe the point isn’t to do anything anymore. Maybe the point is just to be. To experience life in its fullest, without the burden of work or survival burdening us down. There’s beauty in that, I suppose. In being able to simply exist, to enjoy relationships, art, nature, and experiences without the anxiety of productivity.
But that’s easier said than done. Centuries of human culture have been built around achievement. Our value has been tied to what we produce, what we contribute. Shifting to a mindset where existence itself is enough? That’s a radical change, and I don’t think most of us are wired for it; at least not yet.
Redefining Purpose
Maybe, in time, we’ll find new ways to define purpose. Maybe the absence of essential work will force us to focus inward, to explore what it means to live a meaningful life beyond productivity. But right now, we’re in a strange in-between. We’re free, but freedom without direction feels like floating without an anchor.
Some have found solace in community; helping each other not out of necessity, but out of kindness. Others are turning to spirituality, exploring deeper questions of existence. And a few are finding joy in creating for the sake of creation, not because they have to, but because they want to.
It’s an interesting time to be alive. We’ve solved all the big problems, but in doing so, we’ve uncovered the biggest question of all: Without struggle, what’s the purpose of life?
I don’t have the answer yet. None of us do. But in a world where AI does everything, it’s the question we’re all learning to sit with. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the new challenge we’ve been left to solve.