**What Will Meaning Look Like in the Age of AI?**
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more capable and pervasive, many wonder how it will reshape the ways we experience purpose, fulfillment, and meaning in our lives. This question came to the forefront during an OpenAI livestream just before Halloween. Near the end of an otherwise ordinary broadcast, CEO Sam Altman posed a surprising question to Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki: “What do you think meaning will look like? What do you think the jobs of the future will look like? How do you think, when AI automates a lot of the current things, we'll derive our fulfillment and spend our time?”
This moment of reflection stood out, prompting not only Pachocki but also viewers to consider what will matter in a world increasingly transformed by intelligent machines.
**AI’s Encroachment and the Search for Meaning**
The rise of generative AI tools—like ChatGPT for writing, Sora for video generation, and other advanced chatbots—signals a future where machines can handle more of the tasks that once required uniquely human creativity and cognition. These technologies can produce essays, create art, surface connections in vast data sets, and even simulate human conversation. As AI automates more of our work and creative pursuits, it naturally provokes anxiety about the future of meaning and fulfillment in our lives.
Yet, history shows that automation doesn’t necessarily erase the value of human activity. Even as machines have taken over countless manual tasks, people still find joy in knitting, baking, painting, and writing by hand. The value lies not just in the product, but in the act of creation itself—the time, attention, and care invested in the process. This hands-on engagement is satisfying in a way that transcends efficiency and output.
**The Enduring Value of Human Process**
In an era where AI can generate near-perfect digital content, the imperfect, tangible, and analog experiences grow more precious. Watching a glassblower shape molten glass, for example, is mesmerizing not just for the final object, but for the drama of human skill negotiating with materials, chance, and the ever-present possibility of failure. The real-time decisions, the recovery from near-mistakes, and the artist’s embodied knowledge are things no AI can truly replicate. The value is in the presence—the shared experience of watching a person grapple with their craft.
This appreciation for the process extends to everyday moments, like receiving a handwritten note. The unique slant of a friend’s handwriting, the knowledge that their hand moved across the page thinking of you, conveys a meaning that even a flawless AI imitation could never match. The human trace—evidence of care, attention, and personal investment—imbues an object or act with significance.
**Rediscovering the Analog in a Digital World**
As AI increasingly handles our “thinking” and automates more of our cognitive labor, there’s a renewed draw toward physical activities and analog experiences. People may find themselves returning to