Level Up: The Superman guide to the future of work

As the world shifts into an era of advanced technology and automation, the relationship between humans and machines has become integral to the job market.

The "Future of Jobs Report 2025" by the World Economic Forum outlines this transformation, forecasting significant shifts in job creation, displacement, and the skills required for future jobs.

Amid these changes, Nietzsche’s concept of the “Superman” (“Übermensch”), introduced in Thus Spoke Zarathustra, offers insights into how we can thrive by transcending conventional values and embracing self-overcoming in a technology-driven era.

A Shifting Human-Machine Frontier

The report predicts a transformation affecting 22% of today’s formal jobs by 2030, with 170 million jobs created and 92 million displaced.

Automation and AI, particularly generative AI, are at the core of this shift. By 2030, tasks performed solely by humans are expected to shrink from 47% to 33%, with automation and human-machine collaboration filling the gap.

This raises a crucial question: How can individuals maintain their relevance and purpose in a world where machines increasingly perform human tasks?

Nietzsche’s Superman: Rising Above the Challenge

Nietzsche’s Superman provides a compelling framework for navigating this upheaval. The Superman transcends traditional values, creating new ones and turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

In the context of automation, this philosophy encourages individuals to view technological change as a chance to redefine their roles and expand their potential.

The Superman sees technology not as a threat but as a tool for amplifying human creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking—qualities machines cannot replicate.

By embracing lifelong learning and reimagining meaningful contributions in a technology-driven world, individuals can embody the adaptability and innovation of the Superman.

This vision transforms technology from a source of disruption into a catalyst for self-overcoming and human evolution.

Conclusion: Becoming the Superman in the Future of Work

As technological advancements reshape the workforce, Nietzsche’s Superman offers a powerful vision for rising above fear and resistance to create new values and roles.

The future of work is not just about adapting to change—it is about leading it.

By embracing the ideals of the Superman, we can turn technological disruption into a catalyst for individual and societal progress, proving that the greatest potential lies in our ability to innovate, adapt, and elevate ourselves in a rapidly changing world.

* This article is written by Dhaanyalakshmi Muralikrishnan, participants of "The Collision Room" by Astro AWANI, an initiative within Project Sigma, a global program by the Google News Initiative (GNI).