Habib Baluwala Ph.D is an AI strategist and advisor who helps organisations in New Zealand and the GCC harness emerging technologies. With a PhD from the University of Oxford, he has led large-scale AI and data transformations across industries including telecom, healthcare, government, and consulting. Habib previously served on the Executive Council of AI Forum New Zealand and continues to share insights on how AI is reshaping work, society, and enterprise. Passionate about youth development within the Dawoodi Bohra community, he champions an entrepreneurial mindset anchored in values of trust, fairness, and service.
A question that won’t leave me
Not long ago, a bright young student from our community asked me, “If AI can code, write, and design — what opportunity will be left for me?”
That question has followed me on long drives and late nights at the laptop.
As someone who designs intelligent automations for a living, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly AI is reshaping the workplace. What once took a team of analysts or coders can now be done by one person in a few hours. Exciting, yes — but also unsettling for those hoping to take their first step on the career ladder.
The uncomfortable truth
The research is clear. A paper from the Stanford Digital Economy Lab found that workers aged 22–25 in occupations most exposed to AI (software development, customer service, marketing) have already seen a 13% drop in employment since late 2022.
I don’t just read this in reports — I live it. A few years ago, I would spend two full days crafting a strategy deck or a technical analysis with my team. Today, AI tools help me assemble a strong first draft in less than an hour. That’s thrilling for me as a leader, but it also makes me pause: the very entry-level roles I once started in — analyst, report writer, researcher — are disappearing. The early rungs of the career ladder are vanishing, and I feel that shift every day in my own work.
What AI cannot replace
But here’s the part we must hold on to: AI is not human.
- AI can generate a polished marketing campaign, but it cannot understand cultural nuance — the etiquette, cultural references, or tone that make a message resonate.
- AI can assemble financial forecasts, but it cannot look a business owner in the eye and earn their trust.
- AI can suggest words, but it cannot feel the moral weight behind them — values like honesty, service, and faith.
This is where human judgment and cultural wisdom matter most, and where young people must focus their energy.
When jobs dry up, create your own
As a father, I often think about what this means for my own children. Will they find the same stepping stones I did, or will their first opportunity look completely different? That question is what drives me to write pieces like this — because the youth need more than reassurance, they need a roadmap.
Here lies the opportunity: setting up a business today requires less capital, less infrastructure, and less gatekeeping than ever before.
- Selling products online doesn’t require warehouses; platforms handle logistics.
- Launching a consultancy no longer requires offices; clients can be served from anywhere.
- Building tools with AI doesn’t require large teams; one determined person can prototype in days.
If you align your ideas with what you care about— education, design, health, finance, or even community service — you can test and launch ventures at a fraction of the cost your parents or grandparents faced.
I think of a young friend in the community here in New Zealand who noticed small businesses struggling to manage online reviews. He used AI to build a simple dashboard that tracks feedback and suggests responses. What started as a side project is now a paid service used by three local shops. Small in size — yes, but a small step for something bigger too.
One step you can take this week
Write down five everyday problems you notice — at school, work, or in a local shop. Pick one. Sketch a simple AI-enabled solution, even if it’s just on paper. Then show it to three people and ask: Would this help you? That small act could be the seed of your first venture.
Closing reflections
So, what opportunity will be left? The kind you create for yourself.
AI will take away some traditional paths, but it’s also opening new ones. Today, a student can start a consultancy, app, or online store with almost no capital. The question isn’t if there’s work — it’s whether you’re ready to build it.
The door may be closing on some jobs. But for those ready to think like entrepreneurs, a hundred new doors are waiting to be opened.
Which one will you try?
