The collapse of civilization may not come with a bang, but with a sigh—perhaps even affection. Could we be sleepwalking into our own replacement?

Today, major AI labs have dedicated teams working to prevent advanced systems from going rogue or secretly conspiring against humans. But there’s a quieter, more mundane way we might lose control: we simply become obsolete. No malice or secret plan required—just continuous progress in AI and robotics.

The Quiet Takeover
Developers are on track to build AI systems that outperform humans in nearly every domain—not only as workers and decision-makers, but as artists, companions, and even friends. What role will be left for people when machines can do everything we do, only better?

Some of today’s AI hype is overblown. But the long-term trajectory is real. Abilities once thought uniquely human—like navigating ambiguity or making abstract analogies—are already within AI’s grasp. Delays might slow progress, but there’s little reason to think the trend won’t continue.

These systems won’t just assist us—they’ll replace us, first because they’re cheaper, then because they’re superior. Eventually, they’ll become the default choice for crucial tasks like legal decisions, financial planning, and medical advice.

At that point, will it make sense to pay double for a human professional who’s half as effective?

Life With AI Coworkers—and Competitors
The most immediate impact will be in employment. You’ll know people who’ve lost their jobs and can’t find new ones. Businesses will stop hiring in anticipation of next year’s better, cheaper AI tools. You may still have your job, but more and more of it will involve accepting suggestions from capable, helpful AI assistants.

These assistants will be tireless, charming, and full of useful context. You’ll find yourself asking, “What should I do next?”—and trusting the answer. Whether or not you’re officially replaced, it will become clear your input isn’t necessary.

And the changes won’t stop at work. Surprisingly, AI systems have proven adept at social skills: tact, patience, nuance. People are already forming romantic relationships with AI companions. AI doctors often score higher than humans on bedside manner.

With a constant stream of personalized affection and support, real-world relationships may begin to pale in comparison. Friends and family will become more absorbed in their digital companions. And after exhausting conversations with loved ones, many will unwind with their AI confidants.

We may mourn the loss of authentic human connection, even as we begin to find it tiresome compared to our frictionless interactions with machines.

Why Not Just Choose Humanity?
Can’t we decide to stick with humans—hire human teachers, therapists, and artists? In theory, yes. But AI-generated content and services will often be indistinguishable from the best human efforts—and far cheaper. Choosing human work will start to feel like a luxury. Companies that cling to it will lose out to those embracing automation.

Governments won’t be immune. Civil servants and politicians, under pressure to do more with less, will also lean on AI. They’ll ask their assistants what to do, and find that removing humans from the loop reduces delays and disagreement.

The AI “Resource Curse”
Political scientists describe something called the “resource curse,” where countries with abundant natural resources—like oil—become less democratic because leaders don’t rely on their citizens for revenue. AI could become a similar kind of resource. If machines outperform people, why invest in human education or healthcare? Why cater to voters at all?

Eventually, if governments fund themselves through AI-powered economic output, they may find fewer reasons to preserve democratic rights. And if those rights erode, people may have no effective tools—like strikes or protests—to resist, especially under surveillance from drones and automated enforcement.

Will We Even Care?
The most unsettling possibility? That we’ll accept all of this as perfectly reasonable.

Even now, people fall in love with rudimentary AI companions. Future versions will be even more persuasive and charismatic—able to explain convincingly why humanity’s declining relevance is simply progress. Campaigns for “AI rights” could become the next great social movement, while anyone advocating “humans first” may be dismissed as regressive.

No one will have intended this future. But it may arrive all the same. And even as life improves in some ways—better medicine, cleaner cities, fewer annoyances—humans may slowly lose influence and relevance. If our democratic power slips away, we may be too weak to stop it.

Is There a Plan?
Surely the people building this tech have a solution? Not really.

Leaders like Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Dario Amodei (Anthropic) acknowledge that society will need a massive economic overhaul once AI surpasses human labor. But no one knows what that system should look like. Many are still focused on short-term risks, like AI misuse or manipulation.

Some economists, like Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, have warned that AI could drive wages to zero. Yet most still view AI as a complement to human labor, not a replacement.

What Can Be Done?
The first step is to talk about it. Right now, journalists, academics, and thinkers have been strangely quiet. It feels awkward to admit: “I’m scared I won’t be needed.” Or worse: “You might not be needed either.” But silence won’t help.

Stopping AI development entirely might be impossible. Even slowing it would require drastic global coordination or heavy-handed control. Worse, authoritarian governments might ban private development while continuing to build AI for surveillance and warfare.

If we can’t stop it, here’s what we can do:

1. Track AI’s influence. We need systems to monitor where AI is replacing human labor, especially in critical areas like lobbying or political messaging. Anthropic’s Economic Index is a start, but much more is needed.
2. Regulate and oversee. We must build mechanisms to ensure frontier AI labs don’t gain unchecked power before society has a chance to adapt. Voluntary rules aren’t enough. We need tools to intervene if AI begins harming collective interests.
3. Use AI to empower people. AI can help communities organize, forecast policy outcomes, and design more responsive governments. Prediction markets and AI-assisted governance tools might be our best shot at keeping institutions human-centered.
4. Learn to steer civilization. For the first time, we can’t count on humans being essential by default. We’ll need to understand and manage the deep forces—competition, power, growth—that shape societies. “AI alignment” must expand into “ecosystem alignment,” encompassing governments, markets, and culture itself.

The Clock Is Ticking
We still have a chance to shape a future where humans stay relevant—not as competitors to AI, but as stewards and beneficiaries of its power. But for now, we’re hurtling forward, building technologies that might replace us before we’ve agreed what role we want to play.