🚨 Reinvent or Be Replaced

👋 Welcome! Imagine waking up to find your job rewritten overnight. Today’s issue explores whether AI marks an employment apocalypse—or the birth of entirely new ways to work.

AI steps into hair-loss diagnosis — MyHair AI is turning a $50 billion hair-loss market on its head. The startup built a dedicated model trained on 300,000 scalp images to detect early thinning, track changes over time, and match users with verified specialists—bringing medical accuracy to a space crowded with hype.

US launches ambitious Genesis Mission — Washington unveiled the Genesis Mission, a federal push to double scientific productivity by uniting national labs, quantum tech, and private-sector AI. With 40k+ researchers involved, the initiative targets major energy, science, and security breakthroughs to reinforce US tech sector.

Zero-debris future demands action — Experts warn Earth orbit faces rising collision risks as debris tops 141 million pieces, driven by mega-constellations and weak global rules. Europe’s Zero Debris push, ISAM demos, and tighter tracking standards signal progress—but sustainable space needs faster and stronger regulation.

Bug exposes juror data nationwide — A flaw in Tyler Technologies’ jury portals let attackers brute-force sequential IDs, exposing names, addresses, DoB, occupations, and even medical exemptions. At least a dozen U.S. jurisdictions were affected before the company issued a fix—raising concerns about government cybersecurity.

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MIT maps where AI hits hardest — MIT’s new Iceberg Index finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. jobs, exposing $1.2T in wages, especially in HR, logistics, finance, and admin. The simulation tool shows disruption across all 50 states and helps policymakers test reskilling and GDP-impact strategies before investing.

HP turns to AI as layoffs grow — HP will cut 4,000–6,000 jobs through 2028, citing $1.4B in savings and rising AI-driven productivity. The company says AI PCs have boosted efficiency 16%, and plans to automate product development, support, and operations—reshaping roles as demand for memory and printing weakens.

Cities Boosting Young Workers’ Pay — New Glassdoor data shows early-career wages rising fastest in Provo, Boise, and Orlando, with growth up to 7% since 2020. Health care, engineering, and customer-service roles lead gains, giving young workers stronger 2026 earning power in lower-cost metros..

Platform Funding Expands Career Discovery — Find Your Grind raised $5M to scale its AI-powered platform helping students explore nontraditional careers. With lifestyle assessments, mentors like Tony Hawk, and new workforce programs, the startup aims to guide over 1mi teens toward future-ready paths.

Investors Snap Up ‘Venture Zombies’ — A new wave of “hold-forever” investors is buying stalled SaaS startups at steep discounts, then reviving them with cost cuts and price hikes. Firms like Bending Spoons and Curious target cash-flow potential over exits, turning $1–5M-revenue “zombies” into steady earners.

Many Black Friday ‘Deals’ Aren’t Real — A WalletHub study finds 36% of Black Friday “discounts” offer zero real savings, as retailers recycle October prices with new packaging. True deals average 24% off, but experts warn shoppers to track price history and avoid “spaving” traps that inflate spending.

Retailers Race to Be ‘AI-Visible’ — As $253B in U.S. holiday spending shifts toward AI-guided shopping, retailers are scrambling to rank inside ChatGPT and Gemini. AI-referred shoppers convert 30% higher, pushing brands to create AI-only websites, flood blogs with content, and optimize for scrapers.

U.S. Rig Count Hits 4-Year Low — U.S. drillers cut 10 rigs, bringing the total to 544, with oil rigs dropping to 407, their lowest since 2021. Despite the pullback, the EIA still expects 13.6M barrels/day of crude output in 2025, helped by rising gas prices that could revive drilling.

We’re living through a pivotal moment in the history of work. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) grows sharper and more capable, millions wonder: will machines replace me? The short answer is: maybe — but mostly, it depends on you. Several recent reports from 2025 paint a mixed but instructive picture.

Research from 2025 shows that AI and automation may affect up to 25%–40% of jobs worldwide — meaning many roles will change, some will shrink, and new ones will emerge. In the U.S., a widely cited study predicts that many low/mid-skill jobs — especially those involving repetitive tasks, routine reasoning, or predictable processes — are most vulnerable.

One clear pattern: jobs built around routine, data-rich, and predictable tasks — like basic coding, admin work, customer support, or transaction processing — are already being automated. In some cases, AI agents now handle entire workflow steps: from understanding a support request, to executing processes like payment, fraud checks, or shipping.

Still — and this is critical — many jobs won't disappear entirely. Instead, they’ll evolve. According to a 2025 barometer by PwC, workers who adapt by developing “AI-complementary” skills — like problem-solving, creativity, communication, emotional intelligence, or system thinking — are actually gaining value. AI doesn’t necessarily replace these workers; it augments them.

That suggests a more nuanced outcome: for many, the job title might remain the same — but what you do, and how you do it, will shift. Experts argue AI will more often redefine human roles rather than fully replace them, especially in jobs requiring empathy, nuance, or unpredictable decision-making.

So if you’re asking, “Will AI replace me?” — here’s the honest framing: possible, but not guaranteed. More realistically, you could be replaced by tasks within your job, or your role could be transformed beyond recognition. The bigger question becomes: will you stay relevant by embracing flexibility, new skills, and continuous learning?

The arrival of AI doesn’t automatically mean the end of human work — but it does mark the start of a major shift. Jobs built on routine will shrink or vanish; roles requiring judgment, creativity, collaboration, and emotional intelligence will remain resilient or even expand. For many — perhaps most — the future will not be “AI replaced me,” but rather “AI helped me become more valuable.”

Actionable Insights

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years is roughly how long today’s oil reserves could last at current consumption levels, offering a stark reminder of how quickly the world is burning through finite resources.