Futureproofing and AI: Are You Ready for What's Coming?

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, recently predicted that the traditional 9-to-5 workweek will be extinct by 2034. If that sounds radical, consider this: AI is already transforming the way we work, learn, and engage with the world. His new book, Superagency, highlights AI’s potential to amplify human capabilities, creating unprecedented opportunities for those willing to embrace it.

In my book, Redeeming Sundar: Faith and Innovation in the Age of AI, I discuss a concept critical to navigating this transformation: futureproofing—the ability to anticipate change and proactively adapt before disruption forces your hand. It means designing, building, or planning with resilience in mind, ensuring that no matter how the winds shift, you stay standing.

A striking example of failing to futureproof is the collapse of the Christian bookstore sector. While secular bookstores faced similar challenges, they fought to survive. Barnes & Noble, despite its struggles, diversified through its Nook e-reader, in-store events, and strategic partnerships. Independent bookstores leaned into community engagement, unique in-store experiences, and digital integration.

Christian bookstores, however, largely resisted these shifts—even as the warning signs flashed bright and clear. Two years before Family Christian Stores, which employed over 3,000 people, shut down, suppliers had already written off $127 million in debt in an effort to keep the chain afloat. When it finally closed after 85 years, the reason given was “changing consumer behavior and declining sales.” But was it really about consumer behavior—or leadership’s failure to act in time?

The Responsibility to Futureproof

This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question: Who bears the responsibility for futureproofing? Was it solely on the business owners to protect their employees? Or did the employees themselves have a duty—to their families and their own financial well-being—to recognize the signs and pivot before the inevitable collapse? Getting angry at a company for layoffs doesn’t change the reality: The person without a job still has bills to pay. The world won’t stop moving because we wish it would. The only question that truly matters is: What are YOU doing to futureproof yourself?

AI: The Great Equalizer

Hoffman’s argument is clear: AI will supercharge human agency—but only for those who embrace it. It won’t wait for those who ignore it or fear it. Sticking your head in the sand is not a strategy.

At no other time in human history has knowledge been so critical to survival. We can no longer subcontract our understanding of the world. It’s not enough to assume priests, CEOs, or institutions will figure it out for us. It’s not enough for companies to adapt on our behalf. We each must take responsibility for what we need to know—because knowing demands action.

And the good news? AI isn’t just for tech geniuses. It’s for everyone. At its core, AI simply simulates human intelligence, performing tasks like learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and language comprehension. It processes data, identifies patterns, and makes predictions—things human beings do naturally, just on a larger scale. It's not hard to grasp. But it does require a willingness to learn.

The Ultimate Skill for the Future

Management consultant Peter Drucker famously said: "The only skill that will be important in the 21st century is the skill of learning new skills." That’s the real game-changer. Those who commit to lifelong learning will thrive. Those who don’t will be left behind.

So, will you choose to learn—to adapt, grow, and become the ultimate superagent of your own future? Or will you wait until the world makes the choice for you? The future belongs to those who are ready. Are you?