Christopher Mims, WSJ Columnist and How to Ai author — When asked about the concept of “toil,” Christopher Mims defines it as the work humans do not want to do, arguing that AI acts as a supplement to human ability rather than a total replacement. Mims is the author of How to Ai and is a columnist and podcaster for The Wall Street Journal.
While acknowledging that Ai may play a role disrupting entry-level hiring, Mims emphasizes that the technology largely increases the productivity of existing employees, such as sales teams using Ai analysis to close more deals without increasing headcount. He also discusses how one CPG brand uses Ai to find opportunity in areas that was previously impossible.
One theme is clear however, Mims argues while Ai might not steal jobs directly, companies that fail to embrace these productivity gains will likely be outcompeted by those that do.
Ai Disruption in Law and Hollywood
Addressing the legal industry, Mims confirms that Ai is making legal services more affordable and accessible. He notes a shift where lawyers now use platforms like LexisNexis to draft documents rather than just for research, drastically speeding up their workflow.
The conversation also turns to more artist or “creative” industries like Hollywood where use of Ai may actually hurt in the long term. Mims admits that while Ai is currently “not a good writer” capable of originality, it is already being used in production to create ambitious scenes that would otherwise be too expensive. He suggests that while some jobs like concept art are disappearing, Ai could eventually level the playing field in filmmaking for independent creators.
Can AI Make Us More Human?
Mims argues that Ai has made his own job as a journalist more “human” by allowing him to become a “deskless worker” and he presents some concrete examples. For example, instead of typing notes during interviews, becoming linked to his computer, he now relies on Ai transcription, freeing him to focus entirely on the conversation while taking walks outdoors.
Looking forward, Mims predicts a return to an “oral culture” where people interact with persistent Ai assistants via voice, reducing reliance on screens and allowing for more natural interaction with technology.
