How AI will change the world: Joseph Smarr's talk

The Real Thing AI is Taking! Think about how you really mastered your craft. You didn’t learn it from a textbook—you learned it by working beside someone better than you. That quiet exchange of insight and intuition—between expert and learner—is how plumbers, teachers, and CEOs all grow. But here’s the crisis few talk about: As AI and automation optimize productivity, we’re quietly erasing those human apprenticeships that create mastery. I am presently consuming the wisdom of the book, The Skill Code, researcher Matt Beane calls the foundations of expertise the three C’s— Challenge, Complexity, and Connection. They’re the DNA of every great skill—and they’re at risk. If we let machines handle all the hard, messy, human parts of work, we’ll end up efficient but empty. The opportunity? Design AI that amplifies the three C’s—so technology becomes our coach, not our replacement. Ask yourself: Are you building systems that make people better—or just faster?

Max H. here with an important conversation starter. AI is shaking up how the job market values education, and it's about time we pay attention to where this is headed. Whether you're a university, a student, or someone weighing the next step, the key takeaway is clear: the market now cares less about shiny degrees and more about *market-ready value* you can bring from day one.

AI has finally caught up with the university system. Historically the market has always bet on the long term potential of university graduates. Shiny degrees were the cast iron signal for intelligence - which could be moulded into a set of tangible work ready skills. But more companies than ever are realising they can get equivalent to or greater than intelligence that outperform *most* entry level grads at a fraction of the price. So junior roles are literallly DISAPPEARING - and if you want one - you have to be EXCEPTIONAL. The bar is way higher now. Instead companies are investing in hiring more senior employees. A Standford 4th yr was telling me how he and his friends were struggling to land jobs - and these were some of the smartest in his batch. This is damning. The only signal that counts is your ability to add value NOW. - if you work at a university I BEG YOU to teach AI (properly) (dm me if you want help) - if you are a student and you're at university (especially doing a humanities degree) and they don't teach AI, you NEED to own your personal education (because no one else will) - if you are thinking of going to university, think vvvv carefully. 7 days is the new semester and the new degree is 30 days - so if you're going to spend 3yrs on learning something it BETTER set you up to add immediate value in the market. who is trying to solve for this? I would love to chat

AI is transforming the job market for new graduates. Discover the skills and strategies needed to bridge the gap between education and the AI-first workplace.

Well indeed, a good question! In this intriguing piece Shannon McKeen provides at least two answers: "The real value is migrating from information transfer to judgement development, from transactional learning to transformational learning. In an AI saturated world, premium skills are distinctly human: verification of sources, contextual decision-making, ethical reasoning under ambiguity, and accountability for real-world outcomes." And, "The market signals are clear: technical competency remains table stakes, but the multiplier is distinctly human capability. Skills like critical thinking and complex problem-solving command premium compensation precisely because they can't be automated away." These are, I believe, skills and learning practices that many of us already try to impart, albeit now in a world where quick-fix solutions are evermore tempting.

Your expertise just expired. Remember when "10 years of experience" meant something? Now it means you spent 10 years perfecting skills AI learned last Thursday. I see so many brilliant professionals—people who built entire careers on their expertise—suddenly feeling like beginners again. One day you're the go-to expert. The next, you're Googling "what is prompt engineering" at 11 PM. And here's what nobody's saying out loud: That panic you're feeling? It's not in your head. It's real. The ground is actually shifting The skills that got you here won't get you there. The wave isn't slowing down. AI isn't taking a break so we can catch up. We have two options: 1️⃣ Hope it passes. Convince ourselves that our domain is "different." Wait for things to stabilize. Spoiler: They won't. 2️⃣ Paddle toward it. Feel stupid. Ask basic questions. Build messy prototypes. Become a beginner again. The people who will thrive in the next 5 years aren't the ones with the most impressive résumés. They're the ones willing to look incompetent today to stay relevant tomorrow. Our old skills aren't worthless—they're our foundation. But foundations don't move. Curiosity does. Discomfort does. That feeling of "I have no idea what I'm doing"? That's growth knocking. Let's normalize being perpetual students. The comment section is a judgment-free zone. #CareerDevelopment #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #Upskilling #ProfessionalGrowth #AI #LifelongLearning #Innovation #DigitalTransformation Clapself #talr #PrivateTalentNetwork

Ramna Sharma the value of experience has not disappeared. AI did not replace judgment, leadership, intuition, or the ability to execute under pressure. What it has done is compress the time required to learn technical skills from years to days. I am using AI to apply my logic to business intelligence and it has been highly rewarding. I no longer need to memorize every SQL clause or every Excel function. The thinking still matters, and the tools now accelerate the execution. Experience still matters. What is changing is how we use it. The real advantage is in: • Understanding the problem clearly • Asking the right questions • Knowing how to evaluate the output AI does the mechanical work. We provide the reasoning. Experience is not obsolete. It is being elevated.

Bloomberg News TV have the President of Arizona State University talking about how education and higher education has changed due to #AI. The interview shows a complete understanding of how AI is changing their process and courses, but also the complete embracing of how to shape the narrative. This clip explains the marrying of knowing how to code with other subjects. The university has a high percentage of graduates getting into jobs. Companies who look ahead will benefit from the new graduate but there very few, if any, who are taking on graduates. For sure, there is a change in the job market. The move away from life time employment at a single firm, which ended in the late 90s, was disruptive, this is probably the next redress. https://lnkd.in/dJBm5VNf

I just had interesting conversations with our BSc Finance and Business Student Representatives across all years this evening. When I asked how much they use Generative AI in their studies, many smiled and said, “ChatGPT/Microsoft Copilot is my best friend now.” Interestingly, those students who attended today’s #CareerFair shared that employers are now asking how well candidates use AI, and how do students view themselves as fast learners. It’s becoming a leading criterion, on top of academic results, to assess how fast individuals can evolve with change and technology. I reminded students that while AI can be a very helpful study assistant, even a 1% inaccuracy can distort an entire outcome. With its limited perspective, AI should be treated as only one of many references. The real human challenge now is to identify that 1% (or more) and, with a holistic vision, to question and steer AI’s outputs with depth and understanding, a task that demands advanced analytical skills and a strong, systematic knowledge base. A lovely and thought-provoking evening indeed. Many thanks to Oussama BAHER and our Professional Services team colleagues for organising such a students focused event, and wonderful to see so many Course Director colleagues joining as well. 🌙 #AIinEducation #TeachingAndLearning #FutureofWork #AIinOrganisations #BusinessEducation

Using the right tool for the job I’ve been helping many students who’ve returned high scores for likely Generative AI use. While I have plenty of thoughts on how institutions and students can best navigate these conversations with trust and openness, one frequent use of our friend, ChattyG, has been to check whether work meets the rubric. Self-assessment is a valuable skill, especially if you’re aiming for high marks. As a task, I can’t fault the intent. However, asking ChattyG to do this review is a bit like using a spoon to cut paper — yes, you’ll separate it, but it won’t be neat, and you’ll have very little control over the result. ChattyG can certainly try to do this, but there are a few issues. First, when students upload their work, they may be sharing their own intellectual property. Depending on the platform used, that data may be stored and used to improve the model. It’s your right to share your work, of course, but often that’s not the intention — and many don’t realise it’s in the terms and conditions (don’t worry, I didn’t read them either). Second, when students upload a rubric, they’re sharing the intellectual property of their institution. That’s not theirs to share, and while a rubric may seem insignificant, it’s the thin edge of the wedge when it comes to giving away protected material. Finally, this simply isn’t ChattyG’s job. Its purpose is right there in the name — to generate something new, not to check or review. So, what tool should students use instead? This kind of review requires human judgement and critical thinking. I’ll share more on this in a future post, but for now, my best tip is to create some distance between writing and reviewing — or, better yet, phone a friend. Right tools, right outcomes. I’d love to hear how others encourage students (or colleagues) to balance AI support with the development of genuine human skills. #AcademicIntegrity #GenerativeAI #HigherEducation #StudentSupport