LinkedIn's CEO says these 4 qualities will matter more than fancy degrees in the future workplace (www.businessinsider.com)

LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky said at a company event that AI literacy — plus adaptability, a forward-thinking mindset and eagerness to learn — will matter more than “fancy” degrees in the future workplace. Backed by Microsoft and LinkedIn data, his message is concrete: a 2024 Microsoft survey found 71% of business leaders would prefer a less-experienced candidate with AI skills over a more experienced one without them, and LinkedIn job postings asking for AI literacy jumped roughly 70% year-over-year. Roslansky, who also oversees Microsoft Office and Copilot, argued the future favors “people who are adaptable, forward thinking, ready to learn, and ready to embrace these tools.” For the AI/ML community this signals a structural hiring shift from pedigree to capability: demand for practical tool fluency and rapid upskilling will grow, opening roles to nontraditional backgrounds but raising the bar on demonstrable AI competence. Importantly, Roslansky emphasized that AI won’t simply replace humans — humans who can leverage AI will replace those who can’t — and cautioned that conversational familiarity with chatbots isn’t enough. Interpersonal skills like empathy, communication and adaptability remain critical, meaning successful practitioners will combine technical AI literacy with human-centered skills and continuous learning.