You don't know how to use AI (www.anitakirkovska.com)

In a striking shift for the workplace landscape by 2026, AI agents are now producing entry-level work at significantly lower costs than human employees, leading companies like ClickUp, Wix, and Meta to lay off a substantial percentage of their workforce. This move isn’t about cutting costs but rather about reallocating budgets to fund AI infrastructure and attract highly skilled, "agentic-native" talent with competitive salary bands reaching up to $1 million. This trend represents a critical transition as businesses prioritize hiring individuals who can effectively manage and leverage AI, redefining the dynamics of productivity and employee roles. The implications for the AI/ML community are profound, marking a departure from traditional human-in-the-loop models. With AI increasingly capable of executing complex tasks autonomously, companies are pushing for candidates who possess the skills to not only interact with these technologies but also enhance their capabilities through custom-built processes and feedback. The call to action for professionals is clear: to stay relevant, they must cultivate their ability to develop and manage AI tools, configuring their own "agentic skills" and embracing a proactive approach to integration that transforms AI into a collaborative asset rather than merely a tool.