2025 is almost over, and it’s time to stop pretending everything is fine.

If you work in design, writing, product, research, or agencies, you’ve felt it: fewer jobs, lower rates, shrinking teams—and an industry telling you AI is here to free you while quietly replacing you.

In AI Trap, Episode 48, we break down the biggest myths we’ve been sold:

AI will free creatives to do more meaningful work
AI will create more jobs than it destroys
AI will make us smarter and more creative

Some of these are partially true. That’s what makes them dangerous.

We look at real data, real job market signals, and what’s already happening inside agencies and tech companies. We talk about why creativity is being commoditized, why value is collapsing for most creatives, and the line too many people are crossing: outsourcing their thinking instead of outsourcing their work.

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Please help us: we’re running a short survey alongside this episode. If you work in a creative or knowledge role, your input is critical. It takes about three minutes, and it helps us separate hype from reality. https://tally.so/r/Y5D2Q5

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This is episode 48 of the Design of AI podcast.

If you found this conversation valuable, please rate and share the show — your support shapes what we explore next.

For more AI strategy, creative research, and product insight, subscribe to designofai.substack.com

Hosted by Arpy Dragffy Guerrero & Brittany Hobbs

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Most AI projects fail—not because the technology is weak, but because they’re not designed to deliver real customer value.

PH1 Research helps organizations reimagine their customer experience with AI. We pinpoint what customers actually need, prototype and test solutions, and audit AI products before they ship.

We’ve worked with teams at Microsoft, Spotify, and fast-growing startups. Learn more at ph1.ca, or reach out directly to our host, Arpy Dragffy.

48. AI Trap: Hard Truths About the Job Market

Product Impact Podcast | Formerly Design of AI