Jon Saltzman is a technologist and self-described generalist at heart who has lived through major technological and societal shifts including analog to digital conversion. While his LinkedIn profile might suggest he's just a techie, he's deeply interested in how technology, organisations, and society change over time and interact with each other. Jon has worked for well-known companies including a Japanese firm whose founder believed industrialists should genuinely make life better for people, and he's been part of automating work throughout his career while remaining aware of technology's human impact.

The internet era of careers is ending as AI automates digital work, potentially forcing a "back to the 90s" shift toward local, physical community work. When Claude opened Jon's browser and completed tasks autonomously in January 2026, it marked a turning point - not doomsday, but a recognition that digital knowledge work as we know it is being fundamentally disrupted. The prediction is that people will leverage AI to handle internet-based work while focusing their own energy on local, hands-on, physical community needs. This could mean building micro-communities around specific needs like childcare, eldercare, or local services.

Community will become essential for navigating AI disruption because isolated individuals struggle while connected groups adapt together. Jon's mother's wisdom captures this: if you're having a rough time by yourself in isolation, that's one thing, but if you look around and everyone is going through the same thing, you're not alone - that's when you know something big is changing in society. Online communities have grown dramatically in recent years as people reconnect, and the hope is that we maintain these human connections long-term rather than letting isolation happen again.

AI is prompting us to examine what we value as humans, forcing decisions about whether we let it replace us as people or use it to enhance life. AI feels more disruptive than previous technologies because it seems to replace us as humans in fundamental ways. But that's a personal decision - whether you want to let it replace you or not. Good technologists and capitalists don't just worry about technology for technology's sake or money for money's sake; they focus on genuinely making life better for people. AI acts like a mirror showing us a digital version of ourselves and asking what this means for the long run.

Values need directional energy behind them (valences) to create meaningful action and build a positive future. It's not enough to simply value things; values need what researchers call "valences" - directional energy or components that move you toward action. The future depends on valuing human connection, supporting each other, and building tools together. Maybe along the way we'll make money, maybe we won't need as much money, or maybe we'll just need less of it. The key is taking action on what we value rather than just stating what matters.

🙏 Special thanks to our podcast producer James McKinven! (get in touch for all your podcast needs, he’s really great!)