The Care Economy and Its Implications
Back in my undergraduate days at the University of Minnesota, I shared an idea with a professor: that automation and machine learning would eventually allow us to move into a Care Economy. He immediately saw the potential in the idea and encouraged me to write more about it.
I’ve expanded the concept over time, but never actually written anything - until now. This article is an attempt to organize and share those thoughts.
What Is the Care Economy?
It’s not healthcare. The Care Economy is the recognition that human attention and emotional intelligence will become increasingly central to how work gets done in a world where many tasks are automated.
Let’s take demand planning as an example.
Digitization and cheap storage now make it possible to process large amounts of historical data. Machine learning models can predict demand with remarkable accuracy. But even with the best algorithms, contextual judgment is still required. A human might decide to override the model’s recommendation based on real-time insights not captured in the data- like geopolitical events, internal strategic shifts, or simply human nuance.
So while AI can predict, only a human can interpret in context. That interpretation - based on care, attention, and judgment - is at the core of the Care Economy.
A Quick Look Back
The Industrial Revolution prioritized efficiency. Mass production shifted power to the supply side.
The Digital Revolution brought information symmetry. With the rise of online reviews and social platforms, power shifted to the demand side – consumers, employees, patients, etc.
The AI Revolution brings transparency and personalization. Anyone can ask ChatGPT how to solve a problem. Recommendations are now at your fingertips - and tailored to you.
This radically changes the role of marketing. It’s no longer just about persuasion. It's about clear expression of what the offer is, and whether it matches what the consumer genuinely needs. In other words, marketing is moving from the role of Doing and Saying to a deeper role of Being and Showing.
So, What’s Next?
We might be standing at the end of the Fourth Turning and on the edge of a new era -Renaissance 2.0 - where art, purpose, emotional intelligence, and philosophy become central to innovation and growth.
This has profound implications for how we educate, train, and prepare future generations. Education may need to evolve from: Memorization → Critical thinking → Emotional intelligence and purpose.
My prediction: The Jobs of the Future Will Center Around
Judgment-based Work: Strategy, contextual decision-making, and common sense - skills that can't be fully automated.
Relationship Skills: Grounded in self-awareness, empathy, and trust-building.
Attention Management via Meaning: Helping people find their why so they can channel their energy with clarity and intention.
This Care Economy won’t just create new kinds of jobs. It will redefine what we value in people and organizations. The human edge will be meaning, discernment, and care.
Disclaimer: This post was originally written on LinkedIn in 2025. Everything shared in this content represents my personal viewpoint. It reflects my perceptions, memories, and interpretation of events, and should not be understood as factual claims about others. Any mention of people, organizations, or situations is intended solely to illustrate my personal experience. I do not assert, imply, or intend to assert any defamatory statements about any individual or entity
