Note: This is a condensed and rewritten version of Matt Shumer's Something Big Is Happening.
The Calm Before the Global Reset
Do you remember early 2020? Life felt totally normal. We were planning summer vacations, complaining about the commute, and going to crowded concerts. Even though there was some news about a virus overseas, most of us just shrugged it off. Then, in just a few weeks, the world hit the "pause" button. Offices locked their doors, schools went virtual, and our entire way of living changed overnight.
I’m getting that same "quiet before the storm" feeling again. But this time, it’s not a virus. It’s Artificial Intelligence.
I’ve been working in the AI world for six years. I build these tools and invest in them. Usually, when people ask me what’s going on with AI, I give them the "polite" answer—that it’s a helpful assistant. But the truth is much more intense. We are currently in the middle of a massive shift that is going to change your job and your life much faster than you think.
Why February 5, 2026, Changed Everything
For a long time, AI was getting better in small, predictable steps. But recently, something broke open. On February 5, 2026, we saw the release of two massive models: GPT-5.3 Codex and Claude Opus 4.6.
These aren't just "smarter chatbots." They represent a jump from AI as a tool to AI as a worker.
Here is what that looks like in the real world:
Last year, if I wanted to build a web app, I would use AI to help me write specific functions or fix bugs. Now? I just tell the AI: "I want a subscription-based platform for dog trainers that handles scheduling and payments." Then, I walk away. I go grab lunch. While I’m gone, the AI:
- Designs the entire user interface.
- Writes thousands of lines of code.
- Actually opens the app and clicks the buttons to see if they work.
- Fixes its own mistakes without me saying a word.
When I come back, the product is finished. It’s not a "first draft"—it’s better than what a team of human developers would have built in a month.
The Feedback Loop: AI Building AI
The reason this is moving so fast is simple: AI is now helping us build the next version of AI.
OpenAI recently admitted that GPT-5.3 was used to debug its own training and manage its own deployment. This is what experts call an "intelligence explosion."
- Step 1: We build a smart AI.
- Step 2: That AI writes better code to make the next AI even smarter.
- Step 3: The process repeats, but at a speed no human can match.
Is Your Job Safe? (The Brutal Truth)
If you work on a computer—if your job involves reading, writing, analyzing data, or making decisions—the ground is shifting under your feet.
We used to think AI would only do the "boring" stuff. We were wrong. The newest models are showing judgment and taste. They can understand nuance.
Let’s look at some examples:
- Lawyers: Instead of just searching for cases, AI can now analyze a 100-page contract, find the hidden risks, and draft a counter-proposal that sounds exactly like a senior partner wrote it.
- Accountants: It’s no longer just about filling out spreadsheets. AI can look at a company’s entire financial history and spot tax-saving strategies that a human might miss.
- Marketers: AI can now create an entire brand identity—logos, social media copy, and ad strategies—that actually "feels" right for a specific audience.
- Medical Staff: AI is already outperforming humans at reading complex MRI scans and suggesting rare diagnoses.
Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic) recently suggested that 50% of white-collar entry-level jobs could be automated in the next few years. This isn't a "maybe" anymore. The capability is already here.
How to Stay Ahead: A 3-Step Plan
I’m not telling you this to scare you. I’m telling you this so you can be the person who survives and thrives. The biggest advantage you can have right now is being early.
1. Stop Using the "Lite" Versions
If you are using the free version of ChatGPT, you are using "ancient" technology. It’s like trying to understand the internet while using a dial-up modem. Pay the $20 a month for the premium models (GPT-5.2/3 or Claude Opus 4.6). You need to see what the "ceiling" of this technology actually looks like.
2. The One-Hour Daily Habit
Spend 60 minutes every single day trying to break your job. Take the hardest, most complex task you have and see if the AI can do it. Don't just ask it a question; give it a 50-page PDF and ask it to find the contradictions. If it fails today, try again in three months. The person who knows how to "steer" the AI will be the most valuable person in the company.
3. Build Your Resilience
If your income depends entirely on a screen-based job, start thinking about a "Plan B."
- Focus on Relationships: AI can't replace the deep trust you have with a client.
- Lean into Accountability: AI can give advice, but a human still has to sign the legal documents and take responsibility.
- Get Hands-On: Physical, real-world skills are much harder for AI to automate (for now).
The Big Picture
We are looking at a future where AI might cure cancer and solve aging within our lifetimes. But we are also looking at a world where the economy as we know it might break.
The "normal" world of 2025 is gone. You can either ignore what’s happening and hope for the best, or you can start learning these tools today.
The future isn't coming in a decade. It’s already here. It just hasn't reached your office yet.
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