AI and the Disruption to Identity
March 11, 2026 |
Recent coaching conversations has made me think, what if the impact of AI I isn’t just about replacing our jobs but the deeper psychological impact it has on disrupting our identity and who we are.
For decades, expertise meant being the person who knew. Knowledge was a valuable thing. But when AI does its magic in seconds, knowledge is no longer scarce. This creates a deeper transition for many professionals who experience a loss of certainty about where their value lies.
This deeper disruption is psychological, and it raises a different question for individuals. If my value was partly defined by what I know, who am I when knowing is no longer rare?
This requires letting go of a certain identity from the person who knows to the person who helps people think. That transition is not easy as I’ve personally experienced. Identity shifts rarely are as they often involve discomfort, humility, and periods where our old competence feels less certain than it once did.
But there is also a possibility in the disruption.
The research work of William Bridges on Transitions tells us that every meaningful change contains an element of loss. Even when the change is promising, people still grieve what is disappearing. (As Heifetz says, people don’t resist change, they resist the loss associated with the change). The arrival of AI may create this kind of transition for many professionals.
The real shift therefore is likely to be developmental. Expertise is moving from having answers to holding complexity such as asking better questions, navigating polarities, and exercising judgment in ambiguity.
AI may not reduce the need for human expertise. It may elevate it and it will likely look different to what it has been. It will involve loss but those who learn bravely and embrace the identity shift will be in the best position to succeed.
Hi👋 I am Andrew. I help organisations, teams and individuals make progress on change that matters to them. I am a coach, leadership enthusiast and author.
