Will AI Take Your Job? | Ajay Malik

03/12/2025 0 min
Will AI Take Your Job? | Ajay Malik

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Episode Synopsis

Let AI Do the Work: Becoming “Manager of One” in the Age of AI with Ajay Malik

What if the future of work isn’t about replacing humans—but upgrading what we’re here to do?

In this episode of Human Side Up, host Natasha Nuytten talks with Ajay Malik—CEO of StudioX-AI, former Head of Architecture & Engineering for Google’s worldwide corporate network, and holder of 100+ patents—about his mission to “let AI do the work so humans can do the thinking, feeling, and creating.” Ajay shares how his love for technology and his self-professed procrastination actually sharpen his ability to prioritize, focus, and build systems that quietly power billions of interactions behind the scenes.

They dig into his core idea that every knowledge worker is now a “manager of one”—their own AI agent—and what that means for hiring, leadership, and personal responsibility. Ajay is refreshingly honest about the risks: AI will eliminate some jobs, especially for those who don’t learn it. But he also explains how the massive acceleration of innovation creates a new kind of demand for humans in the loop: orchestrators, conductors, project leaders, and ethical decision-makers who know how to direct AI, not just fear it. Along the way, he shares lessons from mentors, why doing one thing at 160% beats doing two things at 100%, and how AI is quietly teaching him to be more forgiving and more human.

Highlights & Takeaways
💡 “Manager of one”: why every person now leads their own AI agent
💡 Human in the loop: 85% AI execution, 15% human oversight—and why that 15% is everything
💡 Job loss vs. velocity: how AI will cut some roles but create massive demand for new kinds of work
💡 Learning from AI: no grudges, no rumination, just next prompt—how that mindset can shape better leadership
💡 Everyone must learn AI (unless your job is literally with your hands): practical urgency for careers and companies

Human Side Up
What happens when we stop following the playbook and start writing our own? Hosted by Natasha Nuytten, CEO of CLARA, Human Side Up cuts through the noise to reveal how real leaders create workplaces—and lives—where people can thrive.

Connect with Natasha:
🔗 LinkedIn
🎧 Spotify
📺 YouTube

Connect with CLARA:
🔗 LinkedIn
🌐 Website
📺 YouTube​