📌 Here’s what you’ll learn in today’s issue:

• The 5 skills your child must master to stay relevant in an AI-first world
  

• Why emotional intelligence and goal-setting now matter more than straight A’s
  

• A simple parenting shift that builds real-world skills in our kids — no apps required
  

• Microsoft just laid off 9,000 people to invest more in AI… what does that mean for your kid’s future?

🧠 The Big Idea: To Future-Proof Your Child, Focus on the Skills AI Can’t Replace

We read a lot of emails from parents. But this one stopped me cold:

“Will my kid even matter in a world run by AI?”

We felt it, because we’ve wondered the same thing.

Like you, we’re watching this technology get smarter every day.

And like you, we’re not just thinking about where it’s all headed — we’re thinking about our kids.

The truth is, some skills are becoming less valuable.

AI can do a lot of the things we were once praised for. But it still can’t do what makes us fully human.

And that’s where our kids’ opportunity lies. In the rare, irreplaceable skills that only people can master.

That’s what this issue is all about.

“What should my kid learn to stay ahead of AI?”

It’s one of the smartest questions a parent can ask right now — because it shifts the conversation away from fear and into strategy.

With artificial general intelligence (AGI) advancing fast, it’s easy to panic. Will AI take all the good jobs? Will our kids be left behind?

But there’s a better way to look at it:

AI isn’t replacing people. 

But it IS replacing tasks.

And that means the real opportunity now is to raise kids who are irreplaceable.

A new guide from 80,000 Hours — a nonprofit that helps people have high-impact careers — just laid out what those “irreplaceable” skills are.

They studied the rise of AGI and pinpointed the human abilities that will only become more valuable in an AI-driven world.

According to their research, here are the 5 skills we should all be focusing our children on building.

1. Judgment > Information

AI can give answers. But it can’t tell your kid which answers matter — or why.

In the age of infinite content, the real skill is knowing what to believe, what to ignore, and what to act on. That’s called judgment.

Teaching kids to think critically, ask good questions, and challenge easy answers will be far more valuable than memorizing facts. AI can recite the truth. Your child needs to discern it.

2. “Learning to Learn” Is the New Superpower

Most jobs your child will do haven’t been invented yet. And the tools they’ll use are changing fast.

That’s why learning how to learn — staying curious, practicing focus, embracing failure — matters more than any one subject or skill.

Kids who treat challenges like puzzles instead of threats will adapt quickly. The ones who wait to be told what to do? Not so much.

3. Clarity of Goals and Vision

AI is great at optimizing. But it’s terrible at setting goals.

It can tell you how to get somewhere, but not whether it’s worth going.

Helping kids think about purpose, values, and long-term outcomes gives them a north star. AI can be the map, but your child has to be the captain.

4. Emotional Intelligence Still Wins

AGI can simulate empathy. But it doesn’t care.

Humans still run families, teams, communities, and companies — and the ability to read a room, resolve conflict, and inspire others is still rare and powerful.

Helping your child build self-awareness, patience, and collaboration skills puts them in a category AI can’t touch.

5. Being Okay with Uncertainty

AI works best in clean, well-defined situations. Real life isn’t like that.

The people who thrive alongside AI will be the ones who can move forward when there’s no clear answer — who can tolerate uncertainty, stay calm under pressure, and experiment intelligently.

You don’t have to raise a genius. You just have to raise a problem-solver.

The Parent Takeaway

We don’t need to compete with AI. We need to complement it.

And that means teaching our kids the things AI can’t do:

Make wise choices. Think independently. Lead with empathy. Solve fuzzy problems. Stay curious.

School may not teach these skills. But you can.

The future is wide open for the kids who learn to be human — in the smartest, most strategic way possible.

💬 Future Proof Parent ACTION Plan

Help Your Child Learn How to Learn, and Love It

In a world where AI can answer anything, the real edge is knowing how to learn, not just what to know.

Here’s how to help your child become a self-motivated learner, even if they’re not naturally curious yet:

• Let them choose what to learn.
  Kids are more engaged when they pick the topic. Dinosaurs? Coding? Building a treehouse? It doesn’t matter — what matters is letting them follow their interests without pressure.
  

• Praise the process, not the result.
  Shift from “Good job!” to “How did you figure that out?” This teaches them that effort, strategy, and curiosity are what really count.
  

• Model the mindset.
  Talk about something you’re learning — a recipe, a hobby, even a parenting book — and let them see you struggle, try again, and grow.
  

• Set up “curiosity time.”
  Give them 20–30 minutes a week to explore anything they want to learn, with no screens or grades involved. Just freedom and focus.
  

• Reward questions, not just answers.
  Ask, “What’s something weird you’re wondering about this week?” Keep a running list. The goal isn’t solving — it’s asking.
  
  

Learning how to learn is the one skill that makes every other skill easier.

And the earlier your child starts, the more confident — and adaptable — they’ll be.

🐝 What’s Buzzing for Mom & Dad Today

Big shifts are happening fast: from AI stepping into the co-parenting role to real concerns about how it's shaping our kids' creativity. Here’s what Future Proof Parents are digging into right now:

🎾 Wimbledon Replaces All Line Judges with AI
For the first time in 148 years, Wimbledon has gone fully AI to call balls in or out. No more humans in bowler hats — just Hawk-Eye Live and machine precision.
When even the most tradition-bound sports event makes a change like this, you know the AI era is here.
Read the article →

🕶️ AI Glasses Go Viral on X
A photo of futuristic-looking “AI glasses” is getting attention online, with commenters calling them “super genius.”
They might not be in stores yet, but the hype shows how quickly AI is becoming wearable, visible—and maybe even fashionable.
See the image →

💼 Microsoft Lays Off 9,000 to Double Down on AI
The tech giant is cutting 4% of its workforce while spending billions to expand its AI infrastructure.
As AI scales, even top-tier jobs are being reshaped—or removed entirely.
What’s going on →

📬 Like What You’re Reading?

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No fluff. No fear-mongering. Just clear, practical insights to help families thrive in an AI-powered world.