A fundamental shift in human cognition is underway as artificial intelligence rapidly takes over tasks once reserved for educated professionals. Gary Grossman, EVP of technology practice at Edelman, describes this phenomenon as a “cognitive migration” in his recent article for VentureBeat. Unlike geographical migrations, this shift requires humans to find new cognitive terrain where their contributions remain valuable.
Grossman notes that AI systems have achieved PhD-level performance across many domains in just two years, performing tasks such as writing essays, composing music, drafting legal contracts, and diagnosing illnesses with unprecedented speed. Some systems can even make unexpected connections that were previously thought to require human insight.
As machines advance, humans will need to migrate toward areas where AI still struggles. According to Moravec’s Paradox, people excel at tasks that are intuitive, emotional, and tied to embodied experience. The future of human work will increasingly demand creativity, ethical reasoning, emotional connection, and the creation of meaning.
Not all jobs will be equally affected by this shift. Roles requiring human presence, intuition, and relationship-building may remain relatively stable in the near term. However, the transition will likely be uneven, with some individuals struggling to adapt.
Grossman warns that human purpose and meaning face significant upheaval as machines take on more cognitive functions. While some researchers suggest AI could eventually help rebuild middle-class jobs by expanding human capabilities, the transition will require deliberate design, social investment, and time to navigate successfully.