Noema Essay: AI Is Exposing the Pointlessness of Knowledge Work — And Tech Is Sad About It
marlene_zw · x · 2026-09-16
In a Noema Magazine essay, Aaron Horwath (who leads AI operations at a creative tech company) argues that many knowledge workers are realizing their work is mostly pointless — and AI may reveal what happens when an entire class of workers loses faith in their careers.
- Opens with a commuter who drones about EBITDA and ARR on a work call, then lights up knitting a hat for his niece — a metaphor for the hollowness of modern knowledge work.
- Ties into a broader newsletter theme on the monetization of free time.
- Horwath advocates implementing AI in ways that support both humans and business rather than hollowing out work further.
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