How AI Is Fueling Anticipatory Anxiety At Work And What To Do About It
How AI Is Fueling Anticipatory Anxiety At Work And What To Do About It
Publish Date: 2026-07-04 03:00:00
Source Domain: www.forbes.com
- Anticipatory anxiety is growing at work as uncertainty arises from conflicting expert predictions about the future effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs and skills.
- Uncertainty from AI predictions shifts focus from present opportunities to future possibilities, leading to rumination and reduced curiosity and adaptability.
- Curiosity is key during times of technological disruption, as it encourages exploration, questioning, and openness to challenging assumptions.
- Leaders should recognize that anticipatory anxiety may cause them to focus on monitoring threats rather than exploring opportunities, leading to a lack of progress.
- It is more productive to direct attention towards becoming adaptable and developing skills useful regardless of AI’s impact rather than trying to predict the future.
- Curiosity and adaptability should guide actions in response to AI’s changes; instead of allowing anxiety to define the future, one should become more prepared for any outcome by cultivating valuable human qualities.
