Artificial Intelligence Terminates Employee's Position. Subsequently, It Provides Second Chance
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the role of technology is becoming increasingly prominent, raising concerns about the impact on employment and the workforce. One such individual grappling with these changes is Mark Quinn, a former tech executive who was laid off due to AI in May 2023. Instead of viewing this as an end, Quinn saw it as the beginning of a new journey, transforming AI from a threat into a collaborator.
Quinn's new role is to rewire Pearl.com to leverage AI, a task that he approached with a fresh perspective, having witnessed firsthand the capabilities of AI. An operational challenge that took four months of work to solve in his previous role was quickly addressed when presented to GPT-4 as an experiment. This experience led Quinn to question how the next generation of leaders will gain experience in a world where entry-level work is automated.
Quinn's AI collaborator, however, found a role for him that did not exist in his old job. Recognising the potential of AI, Quinn decided to learn the language of AI and implored others to think of AI as a collaborator rather than a tool. He built a personal AI agent to guide him and received a 120-day AI application plan from it. This agent also helped him rewrite his resume and cover letter for a job at Pearl.com, securing him the position.
Quinn's message is clear: stop being scared and get off the bleachers, as the game has already started. Rather than fearing AI, he suggests embracing it and building guardrails to ensure it does good. To address the experience gap caused by automation, Quinn advocates for expanded apprenticeship programs.
Expanded apprenticeship programs are initiatives that broaden the scope, accessibility, and diversity of apprenticeship opportunities beyond traditional trades to include new industries like healthcare, IT, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, education, and law enforcement. These programs offer practical solutions to the "experience paradox"—the challenge of gaining work experience when few entry-level positions are available.
A defining feature of these programs is the integration of paid, on-the-job training with structured classroom learning, leading to nationally recognized credentials through systems like the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship. They provide employers with a pipeline of skilled, loyal talent, reduce recruitment and training costs, and help communities build resilient, future-ready workforces.
Quinn's life's work is to ensure others don't have to be caught off guard by AI like he was. He transformed his daughter's nightly struggle with social studies textbooks into engaging podcasts using AI. Quinn has also brought his AI collaborator into his home and created a "Kid Coach" GPT for his children.
However, Quinn's eldest daughter has expressed fears about AI taking jobs and running the world. In response, Quinn is engaging with AI and building guardrails to ensure it does good. He believes that expanded apprenticeship programs can help address the experience gap, offering a viable, economically sustainable pathway for gaining experience, earning credentials, and building careers in the evolving economy.
References: [1] U.S. Department of Labor. (2023). Registered Apprenticeships. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/ [2] White House. (2025). Expanding Apprenticeships to Upskill the American Workforce. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Expanding-Apprenticeships-to-Upskill-the-American-Workforce.pdf [3] U.S. Department of Education. (2025). Modernizing Apprenticeship Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/programs/apprenticeship/modernizing.html [4] National Governors Association. (2024). Expanding Apprenticeships: A State Action Guide. Retrieved from https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Expanding-Apprenticeships-A-State-Action-Guide.pdf [5] U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2023). The Future of Work: A Guide to Apprenticeship Programs. Retrieved from https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/The-Future-of-Work-A-Guide-to-Apprenticeship-Programs.pdf
- Mark Quinn, a former tech executive, sees the growing role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in the future as a new opportunity, having been laid off due to AI in May 2023.
- Quinn now champions the use of AI as a collaborator, not a threat, recognizing its potential and learning its language to guide his career transitions.
- He advocates for expanded apprenticeship programs that offer practical, paid, on-the-job training and structured classroom learning in new industries like technology, IT, and education and self-development, bridging the gap between the need for work experience and the lack of available entry-level positions.
- These apprenticeship programs lead to nationally recognized credentials, provide employers with skilled, loyal talent, and help communities build resilient, future-ready workforces.
- Quinn encourages others to embrace AI and build guardrails to ensure it does good, addressing the fear of AI taking jobs and running the world, as demonstrated by his own initiatives like creating AI-powered learning materials for his daughter's social studies.
- As Quinn works to ensure others don't face the career challenges he experienced, he continues to leverage AI in his personal and professional life, even integrating an AI "Kid Coach" into his family's routine.
