Mad Men Replaced by AI and the Severance of Cubicles
Once upon a time, thousands of white men in suits sat at desks without air conditioning, most doing one task. The worker bees probably drew ad copy while the Don Drapers made deals, often in-between an Old Fashioned or three. There was a hum of opportunity for even the lowest positions, as long as you fit the mold.
Then everything started to change.
First came equality and diversity. Perspectives began to shift. New voices, new ideas, and the status quo was no longer enough. Creativity thrived as different viewpoints challenged old ways.
Then technology started creeping in. Early automation changed responsibilities. What used to take hours by hand could now be done in minutes by a machine. You had to adapt, learn new tools, and keep up with the pace of change.
The internet arrived next, blowing everything wide open. Opportunities were everywhere. You didn’t need a corner office to make a big impact. You needed a website, a good idea, and the ability to connect with people online.
Social media shook things up even more. Power shifted. Suddenly, anyone with a smartphone could influence millions. Understanding the nuances of social platforms became crucial for anyone wanting to stay relevant.
Now, we’re in the age of AI, and it’s changing everything all over again. Some laugh it off, but AI is akin to a new industrial revolution. Billion-dollar companies will be built overnight with AI, and those ignoring it might end up in service jobs—not bad gigs, but still. The point is: you need to learn, leverage, and create quickly. AI is becoming the secret to keeping up, and this trend will grow.
And yet, people are still sitting in cubes completing one task and persuading their bosses of their value by chatting it up around the vending machine. It’s a needlessly wasteful and boring life.
So, how does this relate to our new venture? Well, despite raking in multiple good contracts in the first two months of starting our business, I’m feeling insecure: AI is in its infancy, and I’m scrambling to educate myself. Beyond Midjourney and ChatGPT, there are thousands of platforms. Many will vanish, but we need to know which ones will stick around and become highly proficient with their capabilities.
We want to ride this wave; no, shred it.
Our goal isn’t to create AI but to become experts at using it. This will make us more efficient and better at serving our customers. A two person team can look a lot more like 50 with a few well trained bots and agents. Katie suggested I keep our super powers a secret, but there’s no secret to the future: it’s evolve or die.
I think there’s limited time left for people browsing facebook, in an office cubicle, waiting for the clock to signal their next commute home. This could be a good thing. There’s also a limited time for employers with low expectations. Human relationships end when farce begins, so be real; share and and engage with employees, rather than sitting in an ivory tower.
Excelling in just one aspect of communications is no longer sufficient; you need to master—or at least understand—the entire digital fabric of possibilities, as press releases and cubicles will largely become relics of the past.
In the end, the convergence of marketing, media, digital, design, and other roles isn’t just a trend; it’s a necessity. Effective communication is dynamic and multifaceted. Navigating and integrating various disciplines is crucial. By recognizing and embracing the interconnectedness, we can innovate, adapt, and succeed in the age of AI.
Can two people do all of these things, while drafting random blog posts and caring for two children? Totally. Can we do it with compassion and an open mind? Still to be determined; we will try.
Working remotely makes anything possible.
Mad Men aside, if AI takes your job that’s on you.
P.S. Our new break room is still under construction, but turning out nicely:
