In a recent LinkedIn post, Daniel Priestley explores the potential societal shifts that may arise as artificial intelligence and robotics become more prevalent in the workforce. Priestley posits that many of today’s professional roles could become largely redundant in the coming years, prompting a re-evaluation of human purpose and daily life.
Priestley begins by listing numerous professions, including coding, accounting, law, video editing, engineering, IT support, and customer service, suggesting that AI will significantly impact or even replace human involvement in these areas. He anticipates a future where a small number of humans will oversee AI agents, performing the work equivalent to that of a much larger workforce today.
“Almost all of them will be largely redundant in a few years thanks to AI and robotics.”
The Shifting Landscape of Work
The core of Priestley’s argument revolves around the potential for AI to automate a vast array of tasks currently performed by humans. He acknowledges that humans will likely remain involved in a supervisory capacity, but the scale of human input required will dramatically decrease.
Redefining Human Contribution
Priestley contrasts this potential future with a historical perspective, drawing a parallel to medieval England. He describes a time when daily life was centered around family, community, faith, festivals, and simple pleasures, rather than being dominated by the concept of work or ‘getting ahead’ in a career sense.
“Before industrialisation, people worked but work wasn’t the centre of their life. There was no real concept of getting ahead.”
He suggests that the pre-industrial era, where the majority of value creation was driven by natural processes like agriculture, offered a more balanced existence. According to Priestley, the invention of complex fields like coding, law, and engineering marked a departure from this simpler way of life.
AI as a Catalyst for Simplicity
Priestley proposes that AI and robotics might not just be tools for increased productivity but could serve as a catalyst for a return to a more fundamental and enjoyable human experience. He envisions a scenario where the automation of labor by AI allows human existence to refocus on relationships and personal fulfillment.
“Maybe AI is here to return us back to this more simple, more pleasurable way of life. AI and robots do all the stuff, and human existence returns to be about festivals, families, friendships and faith – exactly like it was for centuries.”
In essence, Daniel Priestley argues that the advancement of AI could free humanity from the necessity of traditional labor, enabling a societal return to the core elements of human connection and well-being that characterized life for centuries before the industrial revolution. He concludes by noting that this vision of a simpler, pleasure-focused existence might seem alien in our current, work-centric society.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Daniel Priestley on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on March 5, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →