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Growing Up in the Age of AI

  • Lior Blum
  • 21 hours ago
  • 3 min read

A guest post by Lior Blum, Livian & Co. Intern from Northeastern University - Class of 2026



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Last week, I finished a financial modeling assignment in three hours that would have taken me all night just a year ago. Not because I got smarter, but because I learned to work with AI as a partner. As I continue my internship here at Livian & Co., I wanted to share what it feels like to be 21 and entering a workforce where AI isn't some distant concept, but a daily reality.


My generation faces the most competitive job market in recent history. Companies are restructuring and the bar for entry-level jobs keeps rising. But here's what really keeps me up at night: it's not that AI will replace me. It's that someone who uses AI better than I do might. NVIDIA's CEO, Jensen Huang, said it perfectly: "You're not going to lose your job to an AI, but you're going to lose your job to someone who uses AI." The playing field isn't disappearing; it's just changing faster than ever.


Why I'm Still Optimistic


I think people my age have something previous generations didn't: we grew up digital! Picking up new AI tools feels as natural as for the previous generation to learn how to drive. According to a McKinsey study, while 92% of companies plan to increase AI investment, only 1% have fully integrated it. There's a massive window of opportunity for those willing to adapt quickly. We're not late to the party; we're right on time.


What This Looks Like Daily


Last week, I had a research report due, a finance reading, and a pitch deck to create. For the report, I used AI to analyze market data, but I questioned it, verified it, and added context from my experience. The AI processed the data, but I provided the insights. For my reading, AI helped me understand complex concepts faster. I tested them myself without assistance. For the deck, AI handled design; I crafted the thesis and storytelling.


Here's the paradox: working with AI has shown me what it can't do. It can't read a room, exercise judgment with conflicting data, or show empathy during major life transitions. Critical thinking, emotional intelligence, curiosity, communication are the skills employers will be looking for. Everyone can learn to prompt AI. Not everyone can think strategically about which questions to ask.


My approach to AI: three-part strategy


  1. Build AI literacy intentionally: I'm learning how these tools work, understanding their limitations, and mastering effective prompting (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity).

  2. Double down on human skills: I seek experiences requiring judgment, leadership, and communication. My current internship teaches me things no online course could, how to work with real people and navigate complex situations.

  3. Stay continuously curious: the biggest mistake my peers make is learning one tool well and stopping. I'm maintaining a mindset of perpetual learning, always asking "what's next?" and "how could this be better?"

 

Yes, the landscape has changed. Yes, it's changing faster. But traditional values like hard work, integrity, persistence still matter deeply. What's different now is that technical competencies are now table stakes. Young people need to be thoughtful about how they use technology and confident in the unique value they bring.


When we worry about AI taking our jobs, we should ask ourselves: "how are we learning to work with AI?". When we seem overwhelmed by change, we must remind ourselves that adaptability is our superpower!


Looking Forward


Sometimes I wonder if I'm preparing for the right things, or if my future job even exists yet. Then I remember: every generation has faced its everything is changing moment. In the past, it was globalization, the internet, or the 2008 crisis. For us, it's AI. And just like others navigated their challenges, we'll navigate ours.


The difference? We're not alone. We have online courses, mentorship, communities solving these problems together. Don't let fears of AI become the story. The real story is about young people with the right mindset finding incredible opportunities in this landscape.


Will it be easy? No. Will it require more agility than you experienced? Definitely. But will it be worth it? I'm betting my future on yes. I'm going to keep showing up, staying curious, and taking smart risks remembering that the smallest steps forward are often the ones that matter most. One day, looking back on this pivotal moment, I want to remember that I met it with ambition, resilience, and courage.

 

Lior Blum is a senior at Northeastern University studying Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He is interning at Livian & Co.



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