The key to being irreplaceable is using AI as a tool while adding your unique human insight, creativity, and emotional intelligence that machines can't replicate. AI handles the heavy lifting; you provide the strategic thinking and personal touch.
One essential tool I use is https://cleverhumanizer.ai/ – it's a game-changer. When I leverage AI for content creation or drafting, Clever AI Humanizer transforms that output into naturally flowing, authentic text that reflects my personal voice. It removes robotic patterns while preserving meaning, making my work feel genuinely human. This combination lets me work efficiently without sacrificing authenticity, which is what truly makes you irreplaceable in today's workplace.
Thank you for reading, glad you enjoyed it! I agree with your sentiments there. How do you personally ensure that you inject just the right of your unique human insight into a piece?
Very nice, the way you frame “unpromptable” as something you design into your systems rather than a personality trait you either have or don’t. It really lands how AI just amplifies whatever foundation is (or isn’t) there: clear mission, point of view, relationships, aesthetic. It’s giving me a useful lens for tightening my own stack so my work is recognizable even when the byline disappears.
Thank you, Anna! It's definitely a skill, or a system, or both. Now that I think about it -- unpromptability is like internet charisma. Some have the talent for it, but it's definitely something you can acquire through intentional practice.
That line nails it. The people worried about AI making them replaceable usually don't have much to amplify in the first place. If you've got a real mission and unique perspective, AI just helps you reach more people faster.
Exactly right, Michael! If you're worried about getting replaced, just dig down and look for the things that AI can't replicate, and then use AI to amplify it. Thanks for the comment -- will check out your article.
This is great. I was taught early on in my career to immediately design yourself out of the business and the build accordingly. We call in "Be On the business NOT in the business". It's incredible that AI can now be another leveraged tool to do this both faster and with less bumps (well different bumps).
AI can definitely be very empowering for businesses/founders, when used the right way. Have you seen the video Anthropic released about how they let their AI Claude run a business in their office? It's very quirky and weird still (which seems to be the main thrust of the video), but even the very concept is intriguing and seems within arms reach now.
This is a thoughtful and grounded take on a conversation that usually collapses into extremes.
What works here is the shift from tools to foundations. The distinction between using AI as a slot machine versus using it as an amplifier of mission, taste, and lived perspective is exactly where the real line is. “Unpromptability” lands not as a gimmick, but as a useful shorthand for something many people feel but struggle to articulate.
I especially appreciated the two closing questions. They turn a philosophical stance into a practical self-test, which is rare in AI discourse. If your work is recognizable without your name, and you can clearly name what only you brought to it, you are doing this right.
This reads less like “AI advice” and more like an argument for taking authorship seriously in an age of leverage.
Such a powerful and balanced article James. I also use AI as a strategy partner and have found that it works incredibly well. Providing I don't set it up to be too sycophantic it challenges my decisions, points out my blind spots, and doesn't get cranky when I push back. 🙏
This framework is exactly what's missing from the AI conversation right now. Everyone's arguing whether AI is good or bad, but you're showing the actual mechanic: AI multiplies what you already have.
Thanks, Laura. That was the aim. Most "conversations" about it are vague, and leans too much on one side or the other. There's always a middle path and, in this case, it's the best one to follow.
Spot on. The people who learn to measure and communicate AI impact are going to be untouchable in their careers. It's not about being a prompt engineer - it's about proving value and building credibility as an AI-forward leader. I'm seeing this create a new category of strategic roles. Just wrote about positioning yourself as an AI implementer vs just a user. Are you thinking about this for your own trajectory?
I understand what you mean. Being an AI user is fast losing it's edge. Being a strategic implementer is where the leverage lies: it involves not just technical skills, but the judgement, field experience, and strategic thinking to know when and how to use AI in the solution. I have a series of articles talking about that from guests!
“Unpromptability” . Such a great term. Agreed. I just passed on an amazingly paid newsletter role because their anti AI stance was outdated. I am glad they were transparent because this gave me an insight into their stiffling company culture. I never want to go back to writing on my own for long form pieces. The Chatty-Steph (me!) combo is far better!
Although I sometimes write without AI just to train those muscles, I agree -- my output is far better and faster when using AI. There's lots of organizations still relying on AI detector tests today. They're going to have a rude awakening when they realize that 90% of THAT pool are beginners using AI to avoid AI detectors 😭
The key to being irreplaceable is using AI as a tool while adding your unique human insight, creativity, and emotional intelligence that machines can't replicate. AI handles the heavy lifting; you provide the strategic thinking and personal touch.
One essential tool I use is https://cleverhumanizer.ai/ – it's a game-changer. When I leverage AI for content creation or drafting, Clever AI Humanizer transforms that output into naturally flowing, authentic text that reflects my personal voice. It removes robotic patterns while preserving meaning, making my work feel genuinely human. This combination lets me work efficiently without sacrificing authenticity, which is what truly makes you irreplaceable in today's workplace.
Thank you for reading, glad you enjoyed it! I agree with your sentiments there. How do you personally ensure that you inject just the right of your unique human insight into a piece?
Very nice, the way you frame “unpromptable” as something you design into your systems rather than a personality trait you either have or don’t. It really lands how AI just amplifies whatever foundation is (or isn’t) there: clear mission, point of view, relationships, aesthetic. It’s giving me a useful lens for tightening my own stack so my work is recognizable even when the byline disappears.
Thank you, Anna! It's definitely a skill, or a system, or both. Now that I think about it -- unpromptability is like internet charisma. Some have the talent for it, but it's definitely something you can acquire through intentional practice.
AI compounds what you already bring.
That line nails it. The people worried about AI making them replaceable usually don't have much to amplify in the first place. If you've got a real mission and unique perspective, AI just helps you reach more people faster.
Check out my take on building these skills: https://vivander.substack.com/p/the-2026-ai-career-playbook-six-skills
Exactly right, Michael! If you're worried about getting replaced, just dig down and look for the things that AI can't replicate, and then use AI to amplify it. Thanks for the comment -- will check out your article.
This is great. I was taught early on in my career to immediately design yourself out of the business and the build accordingly. We call in "Be On the business NOT in the business". It's incredible that AI can now be another leveraged tool to do this both faster and with less bumps (well different bumps).
AI can definitely be very empowering for businesses/founders, when used the right way. Have you seen the video Anthropic released about how they let their AI Claude run a business in their office? It's very quirky and weird still (which seems to be the main thrust of the video), but even the very concept is intriguing and seems within arms reach now.
This is a thoughtful and grounded take on a conversation that usually collapses into extremes.
What works here is the shift from tools to foundations. The distinction between using AI as a slot machine versus using it as an amplifier of mission, taste, and lived perspective is exactly where the real line is. “Unpromptability” lands not as a gimmick, but as a useful shorthand for something many people feel but struggle to articulate.
I especially appreciated the two closing questions. They turn a philosophical stance into a practical self-test, which is rare in AI discourse. If your work is recognizable without your name, and you can clearly name what only you brought to it, you are doing this right.
This reads less like “AI advice” and more like an argument for taking authorship seriously in an age of leverage.
Thank you, Mark! Very kind words. I definitely tried to bring that value in when writing this article :) thank you!
Such a powerful and balanced article James. I also use AI as a strategy partner and have found that it works incredibly well. Providing I don't set it up to be too sycophantic it challenges my decisions, points out my blind spots, and doesn't get cranky when I push back. 🙏
Thank you, Sam. It really does change the game. It's like having the rulebook be your personal mentor.
Tools only amplify intent, and this makes that painfully obvious.
Thanks, John. AI = amplifier, I always say 📢📢📢📢📢
This framework is exactly what's missing from the AI conversation right now. Everyone's arguing whether AI is good or bad, but you're showing the actual mechanic: AI multiplies what you already have.
Thanks, Laura. That was the aim. Most "conversations" about it are vague, and leans too much on one side or the other. There's always a middle path and, in this case, it's the best one to follow.
I love how you use AI for only the parts that drain you and keep doing the things yourself that bring joy. I think that's the whole point.
Also, thanks for including me in your post!🩷🦩
Thanks, Pinkie! That really is the whole point, otherwise, why are you creating?
Spot on. The people who learn to measure and communicate AI impact are going to be untouchable in their careers. It's not about being a prompt engineer - it's about proving value and building credibility as an AI-forward leader. I'm seeing this create a new category of strategic roles. Just wrote about positioning yourself as an AI implementer vs just a user. Are you thinking about this for your own trajectory?
I understand what you mean. Being an AI user is fast losing it's edge. Being a strategic implementer is where the leverage lies: it involves not just technical skills, but the judgement, field experience, and strategic thinking to know when and how to use AI in the solution. I have a series of articles talking about that from guests!
There are only three kinds of work:
1. Building and maintaining systems and feedback loops that compound over time.
2. Taking a deliberate break from 1 because your mind needs it.
3. Failure mode: anything else that isn't 1. or 2.
Thanks, Jurgen! Work type #1 exists, whether you're using AI or not. But thoughtful use of AI can really take you to the moon.
“Unpromptability” . Such a great term. Agreed. I just passed on an amazingly paid newsletter role because their anti AI stance was outdated. I am glad they were transparent because this gave me an insight into their stiffling company culture. I never want to go back to writing on my own for long form pieces. The Chatty-Steph (me!) combo is far better!
Although I sometimes write without AI just to train those muscles, I agree -- my output is far better and faster when using AI. There's lots of organizations still relying on AI detector tests today. They're going to have a rude awakening when they realize that 90% of THAT pool are beginners using AI to avoid AI detectors 😭