The Devalued Self

Chapter 10 explores how the pervasive rise of AI and automation threatens not only large-scale job displacement but also threatens a deeper, more insidious erosion of human value itself. The chapter argues that society implicitly projects the very idea of inherent worth onto tasks AI cannot yet perform, or onto the privileged few who control these powerful new technologies. This subtle dynamic can leave those whose labor is replaced grappling with a profound sense of diminished purpose and psychological distress. By mirroring the psychoanalytic concept of projective identification, we reveal how a segment of the population becomes effectively “identified” into a less valued role within the evolving economic landscape. Ultimately, Chapter 10 calls for a fundamental re-evaluation of what we deem valuable, emphasizing proactive policies and human-centered AI design to safeguard dignity and build a more equitable future.