A godfather of AI shares the career advice he'd give to his 4-year-old grandson as AI displaces jobs (www.businessinsider.com)

Yoshua Bengio, a prominent figure in AI research, shared poignant career advice during a recent podcast, urging his 4-year-old grandson to focus on becoming a "beautiful human being." In a landscape where AI is rapidly automating tasks traditionally performed by humans, Bengio emphasized the enduring importance of human qualities such as empathy and care, stating that the "human touch" will become increasingly valuable as machines take over more roles. His insights reflect the growing concern within the AI/ML community about job displacement and the evolving skill set required to thrive. As one of the "godfathers of AI," alongside Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, Bengio's perspective underscores a key shift in career development amid AI advancements. While he acknowledged that many jobs could soon be automated, even in sectors like plumbing, he advocates for cultivating human-centric skills that machines cannot replicate. This advice echoes the thoughts of his peers; Hinton previously endorsed plumbing as a resilient career choice, while LeCun suggested that computer science students focus on foundational knowledge for long-term relevance. Overall, Bengio's call for personal development in an AI-driven world highlights the need for adaptability and emotional intelligence as essential components of future career paths.