In Face of AI Job Disruption, Ex Tech Manager Chooses Uncertainty, Says 'Build Your Own Boat'

SALT LAKE CITY - Rezul -- Jobs may soon be less available for millions of knowledge workers. AI job disruption has long been predicted, and on February 5, 2026, the parent companies of Claude and ChatGPT announced advancements that substantiated these forecasts. AI insiders like Matt Shumer, CEO of OtherSideAI, are concerned about how unprepared most knowledge workers (https://shumer.dev/something-big-is-happening) are.

One knowledge worker agrees. Emily Burnett has seen friends and clients wrecked by even the prospect of job loss. Her non-theoretical experience living outside traditional employment has her telling those nervous about job disruption, "It's time to get serious about creating something of your own."

In 2022, she left a nine-year tech career to do just this, wanting growth over comfort, exploration over security. And she's not planning to return, unless it's to help others thrive in an AI future or navigate AI changes intentionally.

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Burnett has done what knowledge workers—including experts who've never been without a job—may soon need to do: navigated life without a fancy title, traditional benefits, or a comfortable salary. Her income has come from coaching, writing, freelancing, savings and even her 401K—all to create work she loves.

"Uncertainty has been incredibly stressful at times," Burnett says. "But even at the lowest points, I love what I'm building, and returning to corporate feels a bit like returning to the Titanic. I'd rather build my own boat and help others navigate the iceberg."

Burnett has published two books geared toward helping readers trust themselves with their own lives:

Dear Fellow Spender: Enjoy Using Your Money to Get Out of Debt, Build Savings, and Create a Life You Love.

Dear Fellow Dreamer: Waking Up, Taking Chances, and Creating a Life of Your Own (launched January 24, 2026)

Both books address what Burnett believes knowledge workers most need to develop: personal autonomy, creativity, and self-trust. Literally no one has all the answers when it comes to AI. "Then again, no one has ever had all the answers for your life," says Burnett. "You've always had to figure it out as you go. The only difference here is that AI is happening much faster than we've had to move ever before and upsetting familiar options, like jobs."

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Availability

Emily Burnett is available for interviews, speaking engagements, guest articles, book club appearances, and consulting—both one-on-one with motivated builders and dreamers, and with companies interested in navigating AI disruption intentionally.

Her books are available on Amazon, for order at local bookstores, and through emilyburnett.me/books.

About Emily Burnett

Emily Burnett is a former tech manager turned writer and author based outside Salt Lake City. She writes about corporate reality checks, personal autonomy, and big dreams in her books and for her email list.