In recent years, technology leaders have been warning workers that AI will threaten all types of jobs, from computer programming and customer service to legal and finance. But, according to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, the biggest risk for professionals is not the technology itself — but rather refusing to evolve along with it. And, in his view, there are two types of employees who “will not survive the AI era”.
“The two types of people who won’t be able to transition to AI are managers who are purely people-focused and rigid people who don’t want to change or evolve,” Chesky recently said on the Invest Like The Best podcast.
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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has previously warned that AI could impact half of entry-level management jobs. Microsoft’s head of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, presented an even more aggressive forecast, estimating that most professional work could be replaced within 12 to 18 months.
But Chesky offered a more optimistic view of the future, with the caveat that adaptation is essential to success.
Chesky explained that as AI transforms company structures and the way employees work, bosses will also need to adapt to the new era.
And he especially pointed to people managers — now, every executive will need to be a “hybrid manager” or “IC manager” (individual contributor) to be successful.
This means that bosses will have to adopt a more technical stance and maintain a connection with the final product, instead of just focusing on leading the team. They really need to be involved in the “context” of work to keep their jobs.
“I don’t think people managers will have any value in the future. And when I say people managers, I mean people who just manage other people,” Chesky continued. “You can’t just be that manager who works as a therapist for his employees, who keeps holding meetings and individual meetings.”
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Airbnb’s CEO cited former Apple design director Jony Ive as an ideal example. The British executive would have found the right balance between product design and team leadership.
Chesky said it’s important to build relationships with employees: follow up regularly and go out to dinner with direct reports. But now, just supervising people is not enough — the focus is on leading teams through their own work.
And any employee who thinks they can escape new technology won’t have an easy time in the AI era either, Chesky predicts.
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Fortunately, according to the CEO, it is extremely easy to master the tools and keep up with the times, as long as professionals have a “growth mindset”.
The view follows talk from several technology leaders who have been telling anxious workers that chatbots and AI agents won’t take their jobs — but someone who knows how to use the software might.
CEOs who say tech workers will thrive in the AI era
This isn’t the first time Chesky and other technology leaders have reinforced the importance of adapting to an AI-powered world.
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The CEO of Airbnb has already stated that AI was fundamental to the success of the short-term rental company, valued at US$84.4 billion. And the billionaire founder has been telling other business leaders that technology isn’t just a differentiator — it’s a necessity to succeed.
“From a business perspective, I think AI is the best thing that has ever happened to Airbnb,” Chesky told CNBC in an interview earlier this year.
“Founder-led companies and companies prepared to change and transform will benefit most from AI, because AI means everyone changes,” he continued. “And if you don’t change, you’ll get run over.”
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Nvidia leader Jensen Huang also popularized the idea that AI will not be responsible for taking jobs away from humans — instead, professionals with technological skills will fill these vacancies.
And, echoing Chesky, the head of the $5.05 trillion GPU (graphics processing unit) giant said that as AI spreads to every corner of every industry, no worker will be exempt from the need to keep up with the tools. It can even determine the difference between keeping a stable job and being fired.
“All jobs will be affected, and immediately. That’s unquestionable,” Huang said at the Milken Institute Global Conference in 2025. “You’re not going to lose your job to AI, but you’re going to lose your job to someone who uses AI.”
“I would recommend that 100% of people take advantage of AI,” advised Jensen. “Don’t be that person who ignores this technology and loses their job as a result.”
Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of streaming empire Netflix, also admitted that technology will affect entertainment jobs. But, like Huang, he doesn’t believe that tools will completely take over productions. Instead, creative professionals who embrace AI will be better off than those who don’t in an extremely competitive industry.
“I don’t believe an AI program is going to write a better script than a great screenwriter or replace great acting,” Sarandos told The New York Times in 2024. “AI isn’t going to take your job. The person using AI might as well.”
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