We’re at a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI. Every day, new tools and startups emerge, promising faster, cheaper, and more scalable ways to get things done. But beneath the surface, a fundamental divide is forming — a split between two types of AI. One is being built to replace humans. The other is designed to empower them.

AI for Replacement

This is the version that grabs headlines. The AI that takes over roles entirely — customer support, content creation, legal review, financial analysis. The goal here is clear: reduce costs by reducing people. For some businesses, it’s a tempting shortcut. Replace a team of twenty with a single AI license and a few system integrators. Done.

And while efficiency is part of any good business strategy, this path comes with trade-offs. Morale. Trust. The loss of institutional knowledge. And the unsettling feeling that people are disposable.

AI for Empowerment

But there’s another kind of AI quietly being built — AI that acts more like a coach, a co-pilot, a creative partner. These tools don’t aim to replace the worker. They aim to enhance them. From coders using AI to speed up development, to marketers using AI to test more ideas faster, this type of AI helps people do their best work — not lose it.

It’s a belief that technology should bring out the best in humans, not render them obsolete.

From My Own Work

Over the past couple of years working in AI and digital products, I’ve seen both sides up close. Some teams are laser-focused on reducing headcount with little regard for the long-term cultural cost. Others — just as ambitious — are asking how AI can help their people do more, think deeper, and unlock new levels of creativity and impact. The difference in mindset is massive — and the outcomes are too.

In one project, I watched a product designer light up when an AI tool helped her rapidly prototype a complex interaction — what would’ve taken hours now took minutes. That gave her more time to focus on solving real customer problems. That’s the version of AI I want to help build.

But I’ve also seen the other side. In another instance, a team of BAs and developers returned from a meeting after presenting their newly built AI agent to the customer and the wider team. During the presentation, it became clear that the agent wasn’t just assisting with tasks — it was designed to replace not one or two, but hundreds of workers. The gravity of what they had created began to sink in. What started as a technical achievement quickly turned into an ethical reckoning.

AI in Product & UX

Coming from a background that spans illustration, UX, and product leadership, I’ve witnessed the evolution of digital tools firsthand. What concerns me most is how product and UX professionals are often first in line when AI is misused as a blunt instrument for cost-cutting. But when used right, AI should supercharge these roles — giving us more time to explore ideas, test assumptions, and deeply understand the people we’re designing for.

It’s not about removing humans from the loop — it’s about making the loop faster, tighter, and more human-centered than ever.

A Moral Obligation

Here’s the real challenge: big companies are going to have to choose. Do they use AI to shrink their workforce and pump their short-term profits? Or do they use it to invest in their people — training, reskilling, and adapting teams to work alongside new tools?

It’s not just a business decision. It’s a moral one.

The companies that choose to empower will build trust, resilience, and loyalty. They’ll create cultures where people feel valued, not threatened. And in the long run, they’ll outperform those that took the short road to cost-cutting.

The Future We Choose

AI is not neutral. The way we use it shapes our workplaces, our culture, and our society. We have a choice.

Let’s use AI to lift people up, not push them out.

Final Note

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be launching my own AI-driven product platform. It’s designed to empower product people, not replace them. If you're passionate about building better, smarter, more human-centered tools, I’ll be inviting beta testers soon. I’d love to have you involved.