The Ownership Economy, "CareerTok," and Guaranteed Income

Image Source: AI-generated via Canva

As the global labor market faces a predicted 23% structural churn over the next five years, the creative sector is at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode of Signal Shift, we dive into the "Ownership Economy" and the evolving definition of value in the age of AI. From the historic $1.08 million auction sale of a portrait by humanoid robot Ai-Da to Gen Z's abandonment of traditional resumes in favor of TikTok networking, the boundaries between human and machine creativity are blurring.

We also explore the social safety nets being tested to protect creative labor, specifically the Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) project, which provided a $1,000 monthly stipend to 2,400 artists. As recruitment becomes more automated and ageism creeps into AI algorithms, we ask: how can creators protect that essential "first layer" of human experience that machines can only imitate?

This episode was originally published on 16 Jan 2025 and the original webpage can be found here.

Value of Human Creativity and Ownership Economy

The discussion around AI's role in the creative economy was sparked by a landmark auction of AI-generated art.

• "AI God": A 2.2-meter-tall portrait of Alan Turing, created by the humanoid robot artist Ai-Da, sold at Sotheby’s for $1.08 million.

• The "First Layer" Insight: Raakhee suggests that while AI can mass-produce derivative work from data, true value will increasingly be placed on the "first layer" of original human creation.

• The Ownership Economy: The group anticipates a shift toward an economy focused on protecting and owning original human-made work, with artists potentially keeping high-value pieces offline to avoid them being ingested by AI models.

Generational Shifts in Recruitment

The co-hosts examine how different age groups are navigating a labor market expected to see a 23% structural churn in the next five years.

• TikTok as a Career Hub: For Gen Z, traditional resumes are being replaced by social media. According to research, 80% of Gen Z use TikTok for networking, and 15% have accepted jobs found through the app.

• Recruitment for Older Generations: In contrast, a controversial post by Indeed drew backlash for suggesting workers over age 55 are "in decline," sparking a debate about how AI algorithms may be filtering out experienced workers due to "antiquated" language or resume gaps.

• Creative Resumes: All generations may need to adopt Gen Z's "playbook," using video resumes and digital portfolios to showcase skills that traditional CVs cannot capture.

Guaranteed Income for Artists

We introduce a signal regarding experimental social safety nets for creative workers.

• Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY): This 18-month pilot program provided 2,400 artists in New York with a no-strings-attached stipend of $1,000 per month.

• Impact Results: Preliminary findings show that this guaranteed income allowed artists to spend 19% more time on their craft and led to a 29% reduction in severe anxiety and depression.

• A New Social Contract: The program challenges the idea that such payments disincentivize work, showing instead that artists use the funds to pay down debt, manage caregiving duties, and deepen their community impact.

The Future Outlook

The episode concludes with the idea that while AI will handle the "second layer" of creative production, human-centered design and analytical thinking remain the top skills sought by employers. The co-hosts emphasize that the future of work will require a deliberate effort to shape how technology serves human creativity rather than just replacing it.

*Disclaimer: The text in this post is AI-generated from an original video podcast - data sources, references and the episode transcript can be found here.