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Are you panicked by headlines like 'Why this leading AI CEO is warning that tech could cause mass unemployment' and 'AI's impact on the job market is 'inevitable'? My advice is chill.
While there is a big shift in jobs coming, it's not as scary-sounding as you might fear. At the Open Source Summit North America in Denver, the Linux Foundation released its 2025 State of Tech Talent report, revealing that upskilling and open source will address the demands of an AI-driven workforce.
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According to the report, 94% of organizations expect AI to add significant value to their operations and are actively expanding AI-specific roles. However, the transition from pilot programs to widespread AI success hinges not on access to technology, but on having a workforce capable of leveraging AI effectively. Clyde Seepersad, senior vice president and general manager of Linux Foundation Education, emphasized that "70% of AI transformation is determined by the people and the processes supporting it."
True, some bosses might operate under the delusion, ala disgraced former GE CEO Jack Welch, Seepersad said, that they can fire their way to corporate greatness. But, he added, "no company ever shrank its way to greatness."
Also: The great AI skills disconnect - and how to fix it
As David Brudenell, executive director at Decidr.ai, an Australian AI company, warned: "AI won't wipe out half of white-collar jobs. But bad leadership might. Most layoffs come from a copycat strategy, not cutting-edge tech. AI becomes the scapegoat when leaders don't have a better plan. Yes, AI will take over repetitive tasks. That's not a crisis, it's a cue. The smart move is to redesign work, not reduce headcount. Shift people to the things machines can't touch: judgment, trust, creativity, relationships."
Training is paramount
What's clear is that the nature of work is changing fundamentally in organizations and professionals must prepare for this shift.
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