Many conversations about AI-driven job losses frame entrepreneurship as “freedom.” But what if you don’t want to start a business? In this episode, I talk honestly about why not everyone is wired to be a solopreneur—and why that matters as AI reshapes work.

This episode is for people who have been laid off or displaced and are quietly overwhelmed by the pressure to “figure it out” on their own. There's the idea that they can do that, armed with a bunch of AI tools. Even though it may be theoretically possible, I don't think this is an accurate portrayal of the situation people find themselves in. I share my own accidental path into solopreneurship, the support that made it possible, and why my experience doesn’t generalize to everyone.

I don’t offer a neat solution. Instead, I sit with the discomfort of a system that celebrates independence while ignoring uneven risk, caregiving realities, and psychological cost. There has to be more than one path forward. I cover some possibilties in my Substack substack.com/@adelewang

Q: What happens when AI layoffs push people into entrepreneurship? What if people don't want to be business owners?

A: Not everyone benefits from becoming a solopreneur. While some thrive with autonomy, others experience increased stress, financial insecurity, and emotional overload—especially when they didn’t choose this path.

I explore this topic more deeply on Substack, where I write longer essays on work, AI, and meaning. Visit me at substack.com/@adelewang