The dystopian fantasy of uselessness

An idea is gaining ground: that artificial intelligence will make us all useless, leaving us without purpose, with nothing to do, and therefore without meaning. However, rather than a prediction, this fear is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Not because machines will take away all work, but because we have confused the meaning of life with productivity. If you believe you are only useful when you “serve” a purpose, then yes, AI does seem like a threat. But is that really the case? Think about it: in the 20th century, when the washing machine made its way into homes, many women stopped spending hours and hours washing clothes by hand. No one said that this “freed-up” time was an existential tragedy. On the contrary, it created space for other things: study, relationships, and even rest. Yet today, in the face of AI, panic is returning: What will I do if I am no longer needed? The truth is, no technology has ever robbed life of its meaning. It has only changed the questions we ask ourselves. Work and usefulness are only part of the story. Take Alan Turing: a mathematical genius who invented the foundations of computers, but his life didn't have meaning just because he was “useful” to the British government. He was a man full of passions: he ran marathons, wrote love letters, and sought greater answers. His story shows that a person's value is not measured solely by the tasks they perform or the output they produce. Some people also believe that the idea that “if I don’t work, I’m worthless” is a cultural belief, not a natural law. In Japan, the term “ikigai” refers precisely to the reason why you get up in the morning. It doesn't mean “your job,” but rather “what makes you feel alive.” So, if AI frees us from repetitive tasks, perhaps we should ask ourselves: What makes us feel alive, beyond being productive? Here's an interesting fact: according to a study by the London School of Economics, people who retire often find themselves happier and more engaged when they discover new purposes that are not related to work. Some people take up volunteering, others throw themselves into art, and still others reconnect with long-forgotten friendships. The fear of becoming useless arises when we identify ourselves solely with what we do for others and forget what we do for ourselves. But there is an angle that few consider: our obsession with productivity could itself be the real obstacle to meaning. If AI forces us to rethink the value of our time, perhaps it is not a threat, but an opportunity. A life has meaning even when it is not “useful” in the traditional sense. The real risk is not being replaced by machines, but not having the courage to find new ways of being human. Meaning is not found in what you produce, but in what you choose to experience. If this idea has made you question what it means to be “useful,” on Lara Notes you can say so with I'm In: it's your way of declaring that this perspective now belongs to you. And if tomorrow, at the bar or at dinner, you find yourself talking to someone about this fear of worthlessness, on Lara Notes you can note down who was there using Shared Offline, so you don’t forget the conversation. This reflection comes from the Financial Times and has saved you several minutes of reading.