#Futureofwork

A new wave of research and reporting reveals that many millennials—now entering their 40s and 50s—are feeling trapped in their professional and personal lives, unable to afford the traditional “midlife crisis” once seen as a rite of passage for previous generations. While prior generations indulged in red sports cars or sabbaticals to seek purpose, millennials face economic and technological pressures that make drastic changes feel nearly impossible. This generational stagnation is drawing concern from mental health experts, economists, and those closely observing how work, money, and meaning intersect in the post-pandemic world (Business Insider).

A wave of new research shows many millennials—now entering their 40s and 50s—feel stuck in both careers and personal lives. The old idea of a dramatic midlife crisis is fading as economic and tech pressures make drastic changes feel nearly impossible. Mental health experts, economists, and observers note that work, money, and meaning are increasingly misaligned in the post-pandemic era.

For Thai readers, the implications are significant. Thailand’s population is aging, and its millennial workforce forms the backbone of the economy. Many in their 30s and 40s juggle family duties with financial insecurity, particularly in urban centers like Bangkok and Chiang Mai where living costs have risen sharply. The global struggle resonates with young Thai professionals, small business owners, and gig workers who report burnout and difficulty pursuing bold life changes.

AI can generate code from prompts, but experts say computer science careers remain secure. AI will reshape roles, not erase them, and it will create new opportunities for innovation in Thailand’s tech sectors. This shift calls for fresh skills and a stronger emphasis on problem-solving, ethics, and collaboration.

Generative tools can draft code quickly, which makes students wonder about the value of a CS degree. Yet human strengths—critical thinking, creative design, contextual understanding, and ethical judgment—remain essential for building robust systems and guiding AI-driven solutions. In real-world projects, teams must navigate unclear goals, evolving priorities, and cross-disciplinary teamwork—areas where AI cannot yet operate independently.

A new study from the University of Maryland finds that even one high school computer science course can lift Gen Z graduates’ starting salaries by about 8%, regardless of their chosen career path. The research, which analyzes early-career earnings, signals the growing value of digital literacy as a foundational skill for today’s economy. Data from reputable institutions suggests that the payoff can be larger for students from underrepresented groups, highlighting CS education as a tool for social mobility.

A new study from the University of Maryland has revealed a compelling link between high school computer science education and future salary prospects, showing that just one computer science class can raise Gen Z graduates’ starting salaries by an average of 8%, regardless of which career path they choose (Fortune). The research delivers a wake-up call to educators, employers, and policymakers around the world—including in Thailand—about the growing importance of digital literacy as a foundational skill in today’s economy.

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies capable of generating computer code from simple prompts, a pressing question has emerged: Will computer science as a discipline—and the jobs of programmers—soon become obsolete? The answer, according to recent in-depth analysis and expert commentary, is a resounding no. As AI becomes an increasingly common fixture in the world of software development, it is reshaping but not replacing traditional computer science roles, opening new opportunities for innovation—and requiring a new set of skills from practitioners and students alike (Herzing University).

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape the global workforce far more swiftly and pervasively than many once imagined, according to a new analysis by leading researchers published in the Harvard Business Review. Based on current developments in AI technology—not hypothetical future advances—the report highlights that any aspect of work that can be measured is vulnerable to automation, sparking a wave of change through both creative and traditionally “safe” professions worldwide.

Artificial intelligence is accelerating faster than many expected, with measurable work tasks increasingly at risk of automation. A recent analysis in the Harvard Business Review shows that highly capable AI models are not only handling routine office duties but also challenging expertise across many fields. The result could be a broad shift in both creative and traditional professions worldwide, including roles in law, medicine, and academia.

For Thailand, the implications are significant. In Bangkok’s financial sector, AI-assisted tools are already streamlining risk assessment and tax work. In the creative industries, automated video editing, image manipulation, and even storytelling are gaining traction. Thailand’s strong arts and crafts tradition remains vital, but new digital competencies will be essential to stay competitive regionally and globally.

A fast-changing AI landscape is raising questions about jobs. The Conversation outlines a clear framework: AI disruption hinges on four advantages over humans—speed, scale, scope, and sophistication. This lens helps businesses, workers, and policymakers see where AI will replace or reshape work, and where human skills remain essential.

The topic is especially urgent for Thailand, where robotics, automation, and cloud services are already transforming the labor market. Experts warn that AI isn’t universally smarter or more reliable than people, but workplaces will adopt it where it offers a clear edge in one or more of the four dimensions.

The global debate over the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a new fever pitch, with leading researchers, tech executives, and policymakers openly questioning whether AI could one day pose a true existential threat to humanity. Recent studies and expert panels have challenged both alarmist and skeptical views—and reveal that public concern may be more nuanced than headlines suggest.

Recent months have seen questions about AI’s potential for disaster take centre stage in academic journals, global news media, and even in major tech conferences. The high-profile article “Behind the Curtain: What if predictions of humanity-destroying AI are right?” published by Axios, thrusts this conversation into urgent focus. The central question: What if the so-called “AI doomers” are correct, and humanity is genuinely at risk from the unchecked development of intelligent machines capable of self-improvement or unpredictable behaviour? This provocative scenario is not limited to science fiction; it now commands the attention of some of the world’s leading scientific minds and regulatory bodies.

A rapidly advancing world of artificial intelligence (AI) has left many wondering: will machines make human jobs obsolete? A new analysis published in The Conversation, led by experts in technology and public policy, argues the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Instead, the future of AI-driven job disruption depends on four key advantages the technology has over humans: speed, scale, scope, and sophistication—a framework that could guide businesses, workers, and societies in understanding where AI is most likely to replace or reshape human work (The Conversation).

The accelerating replacement of skilled professionals with artificial intelligence isn’t just a theoretical threat—it’s an everyday reality for workers like a former HR manager, a long-time software engineer, and a small business owner, whose stories encapsulate a global trend that could soon disrupt Thai industries and society at large. As AI systems rapidly take over tasks once handled by humans, a growing number of high-skilled employees are reporting job losses, a challenging job market, and an uncertain future, underscoring urgent questions about the fate of white-collar work in the era of automation (The Independent).

A rising tide of AI adoption is reshaping white-collar work around the world. Stories from former HR managers, veteran software engineers, and small business owners illustrate how AI is taking over tasks once done by people. For Thai readers, this is more than speculation—it’s a current shift with implications for the service, technology, and education sectors, and it raises urgent questions about the future of work in Thailand.

Thailand’s economy leans on services, which account for a large share of GDP, and a young, increasingly digital workforce. The global trend toward automation underscores the need for adaptation. As in the United States, many professionals report job losses and a tougher job market. The refrain from laid-off workers—“AI is a better programmer than me”—resonates with Thai tech students and professionals who are watching automation edge closer to daily operations.

Thailand’s role as a regional economic hub is under pressure as the World Bank’s February 2025 Thailand Economic Monitor shows the country trails its ASEAN peers in business innovation. The report highlights an widening innovation gap that threatens jobs, investment, and incomes—especially for the 12.9 million Thais working in SMEs.

For Thai readers, innovation is more than a buzzword; it’s essential for future stability and wellbeing. A strong capacity to innovate can create jobs, attract investment, and raise living standards. Without swift action, communities across the country risk falling behind as global trade becomes more volatile.

A growing body of scientific research and business insight, recently brought to international attention by a discussion of Steve Jobs’s educational philosophy, is challenging the longstanding belief that specialization is the key to success and happiness in education, career, and life. Instead, studies and expert perspectives suggest that those who embrace a wide range of interests and disciplines—so-called generalists—are often happier, more innovative, and better equipped to thrive in today’s fast-changing world Greater Good, Accessory To Success, Medium.

A growing wave of research and business insight is challenging the long-standing belief that deep specialization is the only route to success. For Thai readers, the message is timely: broad curiosity across fields can boost creativity, adaptability, and life satisfaction in today’s fast-changing world.

History’s best-known generalist example is Steve Jobs. His willingness to draw from calligraphy, design, philosophy, and technology helped redefine multiple industries. This mindset—curiosity across disciplines—illustrates why an overly narrow focus can limit innovation, learning, and career fulfillment. Data from research and expert commentary now reinforce that cross-disciplinary thinking often leads to superior problem-solving and resilience.

Thailand’s aspiring tech professionals have long looked to computer science as a sure path to lucrative employment. However, new research suggests this once-reliable route may be faltering—reflecting unexpected global shifts that are raising urgent questions for education policy and career planning in the Kingdom. According to a recent report by the New York Federal Reserve, unemployment rates among recent computer science (CS) and computer engineering graduates in the United States have surged, ranking among the highest for all majors and exposing vulnerabilities in the supposed “future-proof” tech job market (New York Fed).

Thailand’s push to make coding a passport to good jobs has shaped student choices for years. New global findings, however, suggest that the popular belief in “learn to code” securing a bright future may be shifting. A recent assessment indicates rising unemployment among new computer science and computer engineering graduates in the United States, a development that prompts reflection on education policy and career planning in Thailand.

This matters for Thai readers because the country has aggressively expanded digital literacy and coding curricula in schools and higher education. Policymakers have urged students to embrace coding as a pathway to stable wages, a view echoed by Thai parents, teachers, and students. Enrollment in university CS programs climbed, while private coding schools expanded in Bangkok and other provincial capitals. As global trends become clearer, Thailand must consider what these signals mean for its own education system and job market.

The surge in artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think about computer science education and jobs. Viral posts once claimed that learning to code might be obsolete. Yet expert analysis shows AI is increasing computer science’s central role in society, the economy, and education—globally and for Thailand.

The discussion was sparked by a feature in The Information, which questioned whether AI would shrink opportunities for computer science graduates. Some online claims used selective labor market data to argue humanities majors now outperform tech graduates. However, a closer look at data cited by researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates computer science majors still enjoy higher salaries and stronger employment prospects than many other fields.

The recent surge in artificial intelligence (AI) capability has sparked heated debates about the future of computer science education and employment, with viral social media posts suggesting that the traditional advice to “learn to code” is no longer relevant. However, new analysis and expert perspectives reveal a more nuanced—and optimistic—picture: far from making computer science obsolete, AI is actually increasing its centrality to modern society, economies, and educational priorities, both globally and for Thailand.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world’s advertising industry at breakneck speed, fueling both anxiety and optimism as agencies, tech giants and creatives grapple with what some call the “death of creativity.” As Meta (formerly Facebook) and Google unveil AI tools that can automate ad creation and targeting, industry leaders now face stark questions about the future of work, the creative process, and the livelihoods of thousands—including here in Thailand, where the advertising industry is closely watching global developments.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping global advertising at breakneck speed, sparking both fear and hope. As Meta and Google roll out AI tools to automate ad creation and targeting, industry leaders confront questions about the future of work, the creative process, and livelihoods—also for Thailand, where the ad sector watches global shifts closely.

The momentum is real. Leading agencies are investing heavily in data, machine learning, and AI-driven campaigns to stay competitive. Recent high-profile AI-generated ads—ranging from sports coaching videos inspired by legends to robotic-style handwriting—illustrate how far machines can go in crafting personalized messages. Data from major industry players suggests AI can deliver fast, scalable campaigns, but it also raises concerns about the quality and cultural resonance of marketing.

A growing number of organisations worldwide are embracing a four-day work week, but does cutting a day really boost happiness and productivity—or is it just clever marketing? With large-scale research now emerging, the debate is shaping modern work culture, including conversations in Thailand’s rapidly evolving professional landscape.

In a recent overview published by business researchers in Psychology Today, the four-day work week (abbreviated 4DWW) is framed as either a compressed workweek—where employees work four 10-hour days for the same total hours—or a genuine reduction to around 32 hours weekly with no cut in salary or benefits. Growing in popularity post-pandemic, this model taps into worldwide trends toward flexible schedules, aiming to improve both employee well-being and organisational efficiency. According to the American Psychological Association, the percentage of companies in the United States offering a 4DWW jumped from 14% in 2022 to 22% in 2024, echoing global momentum (APA), and a LinkedIn survey found 54% of workers identified the 4DWW as among their most desired benefits (Asana).

A growing global movement toward a four-day work week is prompting Thai professionals to reimagine productivity and balance. But as organisations experiment, questions linger: can one fewer day truly boost happiness and output, or is it marketing hype dressed as innovation? The conversation is especially timely in Thailand’s dynamic business scene, where hybrid work and flexible schedules are taking hold.

Leading voices describe 4DWW in two forms: a compressed week of four 10-hour days or a genuine reduction to about 32 hours weekly with pay and benefits preserved. Post-pandemic demand for flexible schedules aligns with strong evidence that a shorter week can improve wellbeing and efficiency. In the United States, reports show a rise in 4DWW adoption from 14% of companies in 2022 to 22% in 2024, while a majority of workers in a LinkedIn survey highlighted it as a highly desirable benefit. These signals reflect a broader global trend toward balancing work with personal life, which Thai firms are actively watching.