Train To Be A Plumber: Future-Proofing Ourselves Through Eclectic Learning

After listening to Geoffrey Hinton on The Diary of a CEO, I was struck not just by his deep concern about AI’s trajectory, but by his pragmatic advice: “Train to be a plumber.” This article aims to explore what this advice really means and why, as a Learning & Development professional, I believe eclectic learning, holistic education and continuous development are more critical than ever.

AI Is Here And It’s Already Taking Jobs

In a powerful and thought-provoking interview with Steven Bartlett, Geoffrey Hinton, one of the key pioneers behind today’s most powerful AI models, shared his outlook on artificial intelligence and the looming changes it presents to humanity. He didn’t mince words. The machines are coming and they’re coming fast.

What was most surprising, though, was the career advice he offered: “Train to be a plumber.”

His point was about adaptability. AI is already proving superior in tasks involving language, logic, data analysis and even creative generation. But motor-skill-heavy, hands-on professions remain largely untouched.

More than that, this advice is symbolic. It reminds us that we must reinvest in the types of learning and work that are rooted in human experience, the things that are hardest to replicate through algorithms.

Learning Continuously Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

In our book Brain-Friendly Leadership, Juan Carlos Cubeiro and I discuss “Learning Continuously” as one of the nine essential habits for leading and living in an increasingly complex world. With Hinton’s warning ringing in our ears, that habit has never felt more urgent.

As someone working in the Learning & Development field for more than two decades, I can envision that the future belongs to those who are adaptable, emotionally intelligent and equipped with a broad range of experiences. Our systems of education, both formal and informal, must shift away from narrow specialisation and move toward eclectic, embodied and emotionally grounded learning.

If I were to advise my own children on what to learn today, I wouldn’t just say: “Study AI.” I would say:

• Take art classes and coding workshops
• Join a debating team and learn a sport
• Enrol in meditation, improv theatre and robotics
• Travel, volunteer and build things with your hands

This is what I call holistic development. It fosters not just knowledge but confidence, adaptability, resilience and a deep understanding of oneself and others, qualities that no AI can replicate.

Case Study: The Future Is Already in China’s Kindergartens

While reflecting on Hinton’s words, I also came across a video showcasing daily life in a Chinese kindergarten. What struck me wasn’t just the joy and energy of the children, but the sheer richness of their developmental environment.

These children are not just playing, they are learning physical coordination through obstacle courses and hula hoops, building things with real tools, cooking their own meals and even planting trees for future generations. They clean, cooperate, explore and take responsibility for their environment.

This is a masterclass in embodied, experiential education. They are gaining life skills, teamwork, motor coordination and sustainability awareness from the earliest years. This is about preparing youngest minds for an uncertain future.

This is not just about childhood. It is a cultural mindset shift that we urgently need to consider adopting on a wider scale.

To illustrate how human strengths can complement or counterbalance AI capabilities, I’ve summarised key domains where humans still have a unique edge and the kinds of learning experiences that help nurture those strengths. This table serves as a practical guide to what I believe we should be emphasising in education, leadership and personal development moving forward:

The Professions That May Endure

Not all jobs are created equal in the face of AI. Here are some domains I believe will continue to be essential in the coming decades:

• Healthcare & Aged Care: Machines can diagnose, but they cannot comfort, care or empathise in a way that feels truly human.
  
  
• Education: Especially in the formative years, where emotional, social and physical development is critical.
  
  
• Mental Health Support: Empathetic presence and human connection cannot be simulated.
  
  
• Trades & Crafts: From plumbing to carpentry, these roles require real-world dexterity and judgment.
  
  
• Facilitation & Meaning-Making: Helping people navigate complexity and uncertainty is a human strength we must cultivate further.

In essence, AI may become better at doing, but we must become better at being.

Purpose Isn’t Programmable

What was interesting to see in the interview was Hinton’s vulnerability. He shared his regrets about not spending enough time with his wife before she passed and with his children when they were young.

This was a poignant reminder: AI may displace jobs, but the deeper danger is its impact on our identity and sense of purpose.

When work disappears or transforms beyond recognition, what happens to people’s self-worth? A universal basic income may solve financial hardship, but it won’t solve emotional displacement. Humans are wired to contribute, to matter, to create meaning.

This is why education and leadership must evolve. Learning should not just prepare us for the job market. It should help us become fuller humans.

The Time To Act Is Now

When asked about the biggest short-term threat to human happiness, Hinton was clear: mass unemployment. And it’s already happening. AI agents are replacing human workers in industries like customer service at an unprecedented pace.

This is why I believe we must:

• Reimagine education as eclectic, holistic and embodied
• Promote lifelong learning in leadership and development
• Prioritise presence, creativity and emotional awareness
• Encourage diverse experiences, not just linear careers

Whether the future calls for more plumbers, artists or community builders, one thing is clear:

We must build minds and lives that machines cannot replicate.

My Intent

My intent with this article is to help us reflect as a society about the future that is already here. I am as speechless as many of you may be when confronting the scale of change AI brings.

But instead of paralysis, let’s choose creativity.

We cannot wait until we no longer know what to do. We must positively continue to build a world where our children, our teams and our societies can adapt with purpose and humanity.

A Call To Action

Are you leading a team, parenting a child, or guiding your own learning journey?

Ask yourself:

• Am I encouraging holistic development?
• Am I preparing for a world where adaptability matters more than certainty?
• What part of my life or work still needs more emotion, movement, creativity or collaboration?

Let’s evolve how we live, learn and lead.