The Looking Glass · Free post · PM career & craft · Building AI products

The Thing You Are Expert at Will Be Your Career Downfall

AI will disrupt some of us more than others.

Julie ZhuoMay 27, 2025♥ 165
SourceThe Looking Glass
KindFree post
PublishedMay 27, 2025
Readers♥ 165
Originallg.substack.com ↗
N:

Julie Zhuo argues that the expertise that made you valuable, such as a specialized craft or deep procedural skill, may be the very thing AI erodes first, leaving some professionals more exposed than others. The source text provided here is only a single opening line about the author writing 189,214 words last year, so the full argument cannot be verified from what was supplied. The piece's framing suggests it matters for product managers and leaders deciding how to position their skills as AI reshapes work. Treat this metadata as based on the title and subtitle rather than the body of the essay.

01Key takeaways

  • Your deepest expertise can become a liability if it is tied to tasks AI can perform well.
  • Disruption from AI is likely to be uneven, affecting some roles and skill sets more than others.
  • Consider which parts of your value depend on judgment, relationships, and taste rather than output volume alone.

02Key sections

Opening hook
The essay opens with a concrete personal detail about the author's writing output over the previous year. This grounds the reader before the broader claim about AI disruption is developed.

03From the post

“i. Last year, I wrote 189,214 words.”

“Last year, I wrote 189,214 words.”Julie Zhuo · The Looking Glass

Summary and takeaways written by PM Atlas; quotes are short excerpts. © the original author.