Rethinking Identity in the Age of AI
Conversations about professional identity, have become increasingly relevant in our rapidly changing world. With the rise of AI, many people find themselves questioning who they are in relation to their work.And I keep coming back to one question:
What is identity, really? And how do we lose it?
Merriam-Webster defines identity as “the distinguishing character, qualities, or personality of an individual or group.” It’s the unique mix of beliefs, traits, and roles that shape who we are.
Professional identity is the part of our identity that develops through our work: the roles we take on, the skills we build, the communities we belong to, and, more deeply, the way we approach problems, make choices, and contribute to the world.
—I’m a designer.
—I’m a writer.
—I’m an engineer.
—I’m a researcher.
Our profession gives us a role, a shared language, a community, and a sense of purpose. Over the years, we build our self-image around these elements.
When our hard-earned skills are automated, it can feel like part of our identity is slipping away.
Beyond Job Titles and Roles
But what’s really lost?
Is it the skill, the role, the status, the feeling of being useful, or is it simply the story we’ve told ourselves?
The activity was never the identity itself
—a designer designs,
—a writer writes,
—an engineer engineers.
Yet these actions reveal something deeper:
how we see the world, what sparks our curiosity, the problems we care about, the choices we make, and the unique connections we draw.
I’ve explored these questions through my art—a triptych called Identity: The Failure of Reading. The artwork explores how easily we misread others, building stories from fragments and mistaking them for the whole person. I realize we often do the same to ourselves, confusing our roles or skills with our true identity.
As an artist, I’ve often heard fellow artists say their work feels like an extension of their soul. But over time, I’ve learned a crucial lesson: feedback on my art isn’t feedback on me as a person. That distinction matters, and I think it’s true for everyone, not just artists. Our work can express us, but it doesn’t define our entire being.
If you took away your job title and professional skills,
what would remain at the core of your identity?
Maybe, instead of mourning the loss of professional identity, we can treat this moment as an invitation:
A chance to rediscover who we are beyond our roles, and to find new ways to express the qualities that make us unique.
Thanks for staying curious.
If my thoughts and artworks caught your attention, you can follow my process and latest artwork on [Instagram]
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