Venture capitalists are pouring money into digital employees, autonomous AI systems designed not to assist workers, but to replace them.

This isn’t speculation. It’s not some distant, sci-fi future. It’s happening right now and the money tells the story. Because if VCs are funding it, companies will build it. And if companies build it, it will be deployed.

The Shift Toward Digital Employees

We’ve talked for years about AI automating tasks, streamlining workflows, and making employees more efficient. But this is different. This is AI stepping into the role of an actual worker: handling responsibilities, making decisions, and operating 24/7 without breaks, salaries, or benefits.

In a recent episode of The Ezra Klein Show, Ben Buchanan (a former government official with deep knowledge of AI policy and security) explained just how serious this shift is. The episode, “The Government Knows AGI Is Coming,” outlines how policymakers and industry leaders see this transformation unfolding. And if you listen to him talk, you realize: we are not prepared.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

A lot of people hear about digital employees and think, Well, that’s for low-skill jobs, right? But that’s the mistake.

AI isn’t just coming for factory or data-entry roles. It’s advancing up the skill chain: handling customer service, writing reports, analyzing data, making financial predictions, even coding software.

Just look at the explosion of AI-powered agents in fields like marketing, sales, and legal work. These aren’t basic automation tools: they’re capable of replacing entire roles. And companies are paying attention.

The biggest problem? Most people aren’t.

Governments are barely beginning to think about regulations. Businesses are experimenting, but without a clear strategy. And the majority of workers are still in “wait and see” mode, hoping this won’t affect them.

But it will. And faster than most expect.

So, What Can You Do?

I won’t pretend to have a single, simple answer. Preparation looks different for everyone.

For some, it means understanding AI deeply, learning how it works so you can leverage it rather than be replaced by it. For others, it means developing uniquely human skills that AI struggles with… things like strategic thinking, leadership, and emotional intelligence.

But the worst thing you can do? Ignore it.

This shift is happening whether we’re ready or not. So instead of waiting, start engaging.

• Learn how AI tools work, even if they’re not in your job yet.
• Understand their strengths and more importantly, their limitations.
• Stay adaptable, because the roles that thrive in an AI-driven world might not be the ones that exist today.

Are We Ready for This?

I don’t think fear is the answer. But neither is inaction.

The real question isn’t if AI will change the workforce. It’s how quickly and who will be prepared.

Will businesses adapt fast enough to integrate these changes, or will they be caught off guard? Will workers embrace AI as a tool for growth, or resist until it’s too late? And what role should governments and policymakers play in shaping this transformation?

So what’s your take? Are we seriously thinking about this shift, or are we underestimating what’s coming?

Because ready or not, it’s already here.