“It’s new and fast, and it’s attacking jobs that haven’t been attacked before,” Gurley said recently during the With Kara Swisher podcast. “It’s causing a lot of concern, but I don’t know if we can put it back in the bottle.”

The prolific tech financier, famous for his early investments in Uber and Zillowdoubts that the government will pass AI regulation or pull a big one recovery effort. So as technology continues to automate traditionally stable and lucrative roles, like lawyers and software engineers, it’s imperative that workers really invest in their profession—or risk facing the chopping block.

“The people most at risk are those who are sitting idle at work and have no reason or purpose for it,” Gurley revealed. “A lot of people who are going through the conveyor belt of college, who are looking for a secure job, who are working as a widget or a cog in an industry that they don’t like – I think they are ripe for destruction.”

Benchmark Capital’s general partners recognize that this is easier said than done, but the best path forward is to “create your own career path” and align it with their unique skills.

For those who cannot switch sectors or become self-employed, AI can act as career “jet fuel” that will make them better at their jobs and needed by their employers.

“If it’s out of your control, I’d just say understand what it can do in your industry and be the most knowledgeable person in AI at your job,” Gurley advises. “Then you’re the last person they want to get rid of.”

Tech investor says college has become a ‘pressure cooker’

Gurley explores the idea that pursuing a career in love is a strategic move, and ill-advised, in his new book “Running on a Dream.” He is also one of the few Business leaders ask the efficiency of how young professionals are trained to approach college.

The investor has noticed some worrying trends that may prevent young professionals from following their true dreams, harming their career success. Gurley explains that today’s children are “programmed from a time perspective” more than other generations; the new talent began to worry about a stacked resume from a young age, and now, some colleges require students to use a major in mind.

These constraints do not allow them to freely explore what jobs they enjoy, and instead, they are easily directed to a professional path. He believes that’s part of the reason why so many people are being scrutinized at work—a group that is most susceptible to distraction.

“I think there’s a little bit of a problem out there that people aren’t landing where they love what they’re doing,” Gurley explained. “I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault, but I think we’ve turned the college tuition process into this pressure cooker.”

Business leaders agree that AI-savvy, motivated workers will succeed

The CEO of LinkedIn, Ryan Roslansky, echoes some of the Gurley’s philosophy on career success in the age of AI. Workers can’t simply coast on a shiny Ivy League degree — they need to have a passion for their professions and the necessary technology skills to succeed in their careers.

“My guess is that the future of work is no longer for people who have the best degrees or went to the best colleges,” Roslansky. said at the time a fireside chat at the platform’s San Francisco office last year.

However, he predicts the talent most likely to get the job and succeed are “people who are adaptable, forward-thinking, willing to learn, and willing to adopt these tools…

Fei-Fei Lia Stanford professor and CEO of AI startup World Labs called the “Godmother of AI,” says being tech-savvy at work is more important than anything else.

Today, it’s important for professionals to “superpower” themselves with tools, he advises. and Nvidia leader Jensen Huang agreed that AI-savvy workers undeniably having a leg up on the tough labor market.

He says every job will be immediately affected by technology—and it’s up to workers to ensure their future success by following the program.

“You won’t lose your job to an AI, but you will lose your job to someone who uses AI,” Huang said to the Milken Institute’s Global Conference in 2025.

“I would 100% recommend everyone to take advantage of AI. Don’t be that person who ignores this technology and as a result, loses your job.”