Bits and Atoms

For decades (at least the last few), the world has been divided into two realms—bits and atoms. Bits represent everything digital: software, applications, AI, and IT systems. Atoms, on the other hand, form the physical world: construction, manufacturing, farming, plumbing, carpentry… you get the drift. The past 20–25 years have seen a dominant shift toward bits, with the internet revolution and IT becoming the backbone of global economies. High-paying software jobs, tech startups, and digital enterprises have flourished, making IT(product and services alike) one of the most sought-after career paths. (The terms Bits and Atoms have been used to refer to these different worlds for years, by different people, not sure who coined this contrast).

But with the rise of AI, this trend is on the verge of reversal. Knowledge workers, including support staff, writers, strategists, and even junior and mid-level roles (across all crafts) are increasingly at risk. AI can now generate content, debug code, automate processes, and even provide strategic recommendations. While it may not fully replace human expertise, it's rapidly improving, reducing the need for large IT workforces. Jobs that were once abundant may soon become scarce, making it harder for new entrants to find opportunities. An example of that is the announcement last month from the Salesforce CEO that the company will not be hiring any engineers this year due to the productivity gains achieved by AI with existing engineers. It is not just ‘no new hires’ but a lot of companies have also let go of employees.

This shift is reminiscent of what happened in manufacturing and construction decades ago. As digital technologies rose, traditional hands-on jobs lost their appeal. However, the pendulum may now be swinging back. Feet on the ground jobs —plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, farming, civil engineering, manufacturing, gig economy folks (delivery person)—are irreplaceable. Unlike bits, atoms require human hands and physical effort, making them resilient to AI disruption ( at least not at the scale we are seeing AI impact the IT) and bringing a human touch in a bit-filled world.

In the next few years, we may see a world where IT salaries normalize, job availability shrinks, and the value of working with atoms resurges. The question is not whether this shift will happen but how quickly and significantly it will impact our workforce. The future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—humanness, creativity, and hands-on skills may once again take center stage.

What do you think? How do you see AI defining the future of jobs? What college courses do you think will be relevant(or irrelevant) going forward? What kind of jobs do you think will not be replaceable by AI? I would love to hear your opinion.