Lately I've been building things I wouldn't have even tried a year ago. A squishy 3D pet that lives in your browser. A tool that turns AI-made videos into After Effects projects. A short film with a voiceover. None of this is really in my job description as a product designer, but AI made it feel possible, and fast.
That's the part I love. It doesn't just make me quicker at what I already do. It pulls me into areas I'd never have walked into on my own.
But I'd be lying if I said I'm not a little worried.
Every few weeks there's news about another team getting smaller, another role being "handled by AI". And I keep wondering: if machines start doing more of the work, how does the economy hold up? Who earns, who spends, and what happens to everyone in between? I don't have an answer. I'm not sure anyone does yet.
What I've landed on, for now, is simple. Keep learning. Try the new tools when they come out, even when it feels like too much. Figure out what they're good at and where they fall apart. I think the people who'll be okay are the ones who stay curious and keep upskilling, instead of waiting to see what happens.
So that's where I am. It's chaos, and at the same time it feels powerful. Maybe both are true. I'm choosing to lean in, and keep my eyes open while I do.
— Shamil