If you’ve caught yourself wondering whether A.I. is coming for your job, you’re not being dramatic–you’re paying attention. And in a city like Lubbock, where people take pride in hard work and adaptability, that conversation is starting to happen more often.

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According to a recent report, 92% of companies plan to increase their investment in A.I. over the next two to three years. That doesn’t mean jobs are disappearing overnight, but it does mean the way we work is changing fast.

Here are three practical ways people in Lubbock can stay relevant as A.I. becomes part of everyday work life.

A.I. Isn’t Slowing Down–And Neither Is Lubbock

From offices and hospitals to agriculture, marketing, education, and even media A.I. tools are quietly being introduced everywhere. Many companies are moving quickly–and not all of them are taking the time to walk employees through what’s coming.

READ MORE: Lubbock Is Using A.I. More Than You Think

That’s where individual workers have an edge.

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

One of the biggest takeaways from experts is simple: don’t wait for your employer to train you.

Companies are rolling out A.I. tools faster than they’re offering support, which means the responsibility often lands on the employee. Learning the basics now–even just understanding what A.I. can and can’t do–puts you ahead of the curve.

For Lubbock workers, that could mean watching tutorials, experimenting with tools like ChatGPT, or learning how A.I. fits into your specific field. The goal isn’t to become a programmer–it’s to stay informed.

Learn From the People Around You

A.I. learning doesn’t always come from a classroom. Sometimes it’s the coworker down the hall.

Younger employees, recent graduates, or tech-savvy teammates often have hands-on experience using A.I. tools already. Collaborating with them can be one of the fastest ways to build confidence and understanding–even if you’ve been in your role for years.

In Lubbock workplaces, that kind of cross-generational teamwork already happens every day. A.I. is just another opportunity to lean into it.

Lean Into What Makes You Human

Here’s the part A.I. still struggles with: being human.

A.I. can process data, automate tasks, and generate content–but it falls short when it comes to judgment, empathy, nuance, and relationship-building. Those skills matter deeply in fields like healthcare, education, customer service, leadership, and management.

For people in Lubbock, those human qualities are often what set them apart. Knowing how to read a room, make thoughtful decisions, and connect with others is something no algorithm can replace.

What This Means for Lubbock’s Workforce

A.I. isn’t about replacing people–it’s about changing how work gets done. The workers who stay relevant will be the ones who adapt early, stay curious, and use technology as a tool rather than seeing it as a threat.

READ MORE: Texas Lawmakers Push for Investigation Into Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok

The Lubbock workforce has always figured things out as they go. A.I. is just the next challenge–and one that plenty of people here are more than ready to meet.

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