Imagine: it’s 2025 and you’re walking to the coffee machine at work. You hear colleagues talking about a new AI agent that can not only sort your emails, but also perform advanced analyses and even formulate marketing strategies. Maybe this system even surpasses your work in some areas, something you’ve always been proud of. That can be quite confronting. This feeling – the fear and sometimes even the pain of discovering that a machine is overtaking you – is what we at AI.nl call the ‘Kasparov syndrome’.

 

Text: Job van den Berg

The name comes from Garry Kasparov, chess legend who in 1997 lost to Deep Blue, the IBM computer that had stripped him of his title as the world’s best chess player. Although Deep Blue was primarily a powerful computing machine – and one could question whether it was “really AI” – that match symbolizes the moment when technology can surpass humans. Kasparov’s defeat was not just about chess, but also about the realization that a machine can take over your own expertise. That is exactly what is happening in many fields right now, from writing and programming to finance and creative work.

It’s understandable that you’re shocked to see an AI come up with solutions in no time or perform tasks that you’ve spent years carefully developing. However, this doesn’t mean the end of your career. AI can take over repetitive, predictable and data-intensive work, so you can focus on what makes people unique: empathy, creativity and a sharp moral compass. Whether you’re a manager, marketer or developer: the key lies in collaboration between humans and machines.

Kasparov himself chose to delve into technology after his loss. He wrote books, gave lectures and promoted the merging of human intuition and computational power. During a TEDx talk he emphasized his vision of the future with the words: “There's only one thing that only humans can do, and that's dream. Let us dream big”. It is precisely that ability to dream, imagine and innovate that remains essential, even as machines become increasingly intelligent in our processes.

Yet, it is not easy to navigate in a world where AI is so high profile. What can you do in concrete terms to prepare yourself? This is exactly where the following steps come in handy.

Prepare for your 'Kasparov moment'

Embrace change: Don’t see AI as a threat, see it as an opportunity. Technology doesn’t make your job redundant, it changes the way you add value.

Focus on your unique humanity: Creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking remain uniquely human skills. Combine them with the power of AI.

Keep learning: Make sure you stay up-to-date with technological developments. Understand how AI works and how you can use it in your field.

These three principles are crucial to avoiding Kasparov syndrome paralysis. By embracing change in your work, you’ll discover new ways to stay relevant. If AI can make your reports faster, you can focus on interpretation and the human touch. Develop your creativity and empathy by looking at where your insights can make a difference—for example, in decisions where emotion and ethics play a big role. And invest in your own knowledge by continuing to learn about AI, so you know how to ask the right questions and value the results AI delivers.

Kasparov syndrome doesn't have to be a curse

So maybe 2025 will be your 'Kasparov year' in which you experience for the first time that AI can do part of your work better, faster or cheaper. That may be a bit of a shock, but also see it as a catalyst for growth. Your added value lies in the human skills that no machine can replace. By working together with AI, you push the boundaries of what is possible and you can achieve more than before.

So take that sip of your cappuccino and ask yourself: what dreams do you still have? How can you shape them together with AI, instead of fighting against them? Kasparov syndrome doesn’t have to be a curse, but can be the first step towards an inspiring future in which man and machine push each other to new heights.

 

Job van den Berg is co-founder of ai.nl and The Automation Group, speaker and tech entrepreneur, presenter of the AI ​​series AI at Work (DPG Media) and author of several books on AI. He was previously data director at Kantar and DPG Media, among others. Van den Berg will write columns for Ziptone in the near future.

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