Is AI Going to Take My Job? What I See From a Ladder

Is AI going to take my job? Not mine. I clean windows, and the robots are not advanced enough yet. Your job may be different, so here is what I see from the ladder, and what I would say to you if you cannot sleep over this.

Have I ever been afraid of losing work?

I have been afraid of losing contracts, yes. That is part of running your own business.

But is AI going to take my job? No. The robots are not advanced enough yet. They are aimed at general cleaning, not at window cleaning. So I have never been afraid of losing my job to one.

What I would say to someone at a desk tonight

You need to ask yourself the question: can AI already do it?

If it can, then master the AI that is already doing it. Be the controller of the AI for your field or your industry.

Here is a real example from my own businesses. I used to subscribe to different service providers for all my administration. Now I make my own software that suits me. That could be someone's job. So think about what you could offer, as an alternative or as support, using the knowledge you already have.

The smallest first step for tomorrow morning

• Start learning AI.
• Get a side hustle, a different hobby job you can fall back on.
• If you already see people being made redundant because of AI, be an early mover and take it seriously.

It might feel like a step back. But you will be an early starter. You will have accepted that AI is a tool, you can use it to your advantage, and you will not fall too far behind.

If your side hustle could be a hand skill

This is the part I know. Window cleaning is a skill you can keep for life, and you can start it part-time. I went part-time for six or seven years in Vienna before I went full time. If you want to see whether it suits you, read my story and what the job has given me, then start free with the Manifesto.

Related guides

• Jobs AI cannot do: why I clean windows by hand
• AI-proof careers: 5 trades that stay human
• Career change at 40: what I would do
• Best trade to learn right now, from a window cleaner

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AI going to take my job?

I cannot answer for your job. Ask yourself if AI can already do your work. If it can, learn to be the person who controls that AI in your field, and be an early mover.

What should I do if I am worried about AI and my job?

Start learning AI, and get a side hustle you can fall back on. If you already see people being made redundant because of AI, take it seriously now.

Will AI replace window cleaners?

Not any time soon, in my view. The robots are not advanced enough yet, and they are aimed at general cleaning, not at window cleaning. I do not know the statistics. That is what I see from the job.