Building Smart People. 

Our greatest challenge isn't building smarter AI. It's making sure we're still building smarter people.

It seems like I can't go through a day without hearing, saying, or discussing those two letters: AI. As we all know, they stand for artificial intelligence. The two words have become inseparable—like salt and pepper or peanut butter and jelly. Whether we like it or not, AI has become part of our daily lives.

Much like politics, the conversation surrounding AI is becoming increasingly polarized. People often fall into one of two camps: you're either enthusiastic about it or deeply skeptical of it.

As someone who uses AI almost every day—primarily for marketing, business analysis, and data analytics—it's difficult to step away from it. I see AI the same way I see a power drill or a hammer. They're tools. A power drill makes it easier to fasten two pieces of plywood together, and a hammer makes hanging a picture much simpler. AI has the same potential to make work faster and more efficient.

But that doesn't mean I ignore its darker side.

There are legitimate concerns surrounding AI. The demand for electricity and water to power data centers continues to grow. Copyright disputes are becoming more common. Low-quality AI-generated content is flooding the internet. Academic integrity is being challenged, and many people worry about declining critical thinking and creativity.

Those concerns are real.

That's why I find myself somewhere in the middle. I enjoy using AI because it makes me more productive, yet I also understand why many people are uneasy about where the technology is heading. Whether we embrace it or resist it, however, AI is here to stay.

Of all the conversations surrounding artificial intelligence, one concerns me more than any other.

I'm worried about the generation that's just beginning to enter the workforce.

Many young professionals see AI as a direct competitor. They wonder how they'll compete with technology that can perform many of the jobs they expected to learn from. If AI handles much of the routine work, where will they gain the experience needed to build a career?

Consider just a few of the roles already being reshaped by AI:

• Junior Software Developers – AI coding assistants now generate code, write test cases, and resolve routine bugs.

• Junior Graphic Designers – AI image generators produce first drafts and concept artwork in seconds.

• Entry-Level Copywriters and Editors – AI can create, revise, and proofread content at remarkable speed.

• Junior Financial Analysts – AI rapidly summarizes financial data, identifies trends, and prepares preliminary reports.

• Sales Support Representatives – AI agents qualify leads, update CRM systems, and automate routine follow-up.

Do you notice the pattern?

Most of these are entry-level or junior positions.

Historically, these jobs have served as the first rung on the career ladder. They provide opportunities to make mistakes, develop judgment, learn from mentors, and gradually build expertise.

If AI removes enough of those early opportunities, how will tomorrow's experts gain the experience needed to become tomorrow's leaders?

Technology has always advanced, but today's pace feels different. To borrow a phrase from Spaceballs, we've gone beyond "ludicrous speed" and are heading toward "plaid." Even for those of us already established in our careers, keeping pace with AI is a challenge. I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel for someone just beginning theirs.

So what is the answer?

I don't believe the solution is to fight AI or pretend it isn't coming. Instead, I believe we need to rethink what it means to prepare people for work.

The skills that will become increasingly valuable are the ones AI still struggles to replicate:

• Critical thinking

• Business judgment

• Emotional intelligence

• Communication

• Leadership

• Creativity

• Ethical decision-making

• Systems thinking

• Building trust and relationships

• Knowing when AI is wrong

Perhaps the future isn't about competing against AI.

Perhaps it's about learning how to work alongside it.

The professionals who thrive won't necessarily be the ones who know the most prompts or use the newest AI tools. They'll be the ones who can combine human judgment with artificial intelligence to solve problems, make better decisions, and create value that neither could produce alone.

If that's true, then maybe our greatest challenge isn't building smarter AI.

It's making sure we're still building smarter people.