Key takeaways Brian Chesky warned that traditional managers and employees who resist change could struggle to survive the AI revolution Chesky predicted that companies could favor hands-on ma
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky warned that two types of workers could struggle to survive the artificial intelligence revolution. He argues that traditional managers and employees who resist change risk being left behind as AI transforms the workplace.
His comments were originally made during an appearance on the Invest Like the Best podcast earlier this year, but resurfaced afterFortune revisited his predictions on Oct. 25.
”The two types of people who will not make the shift to AI are pure people managers, and people that are rigid and don't want to change and evolve,” Chesky said. The Airbnb co-founder believes adapting to AI will become essential for employees hoping to stay competitive in an automated workforce.
Airbnb CEO Predicts Traditional Managers Could Become ObsoleteChesky singled out managers whose responsibilities revolve entirely around supervising employees, conducting meetings and holding one-on-one discussions. He argued that these positions could lose their relevance as artificial intelligence changes how companies operate.
”I don't think people managers will have any value in the future,” Chesky said. He did clarify that he was referring specifically to people who only manage other employees.
Instead, Chesky believes companies will need hybrid managers who combine leadership responsibilities with hands-on involvement in their teams' work. These managers would possess practical expertise and contribute directly to projects rather than focusing exclusively on supervising employees.
He pointed to former Apple design chief Jony Ive as an example of a leader who successfully combined technical expertise with management responsibilities.
Workers Who Refuse to Adapt to AI Could Also Be Left BehindBeyond traditional managers, Chesky warned that employees unwilling to embrace artificial intelligence could face an uncertain future. He argued that workers have to develop a growth mindset and continuously learn new skills to stay relevant as AI becomes more deeply integrated into everyday business operations.
However, he also suggested that learning to use AI tools does not necessarily require extensive technical knowledge, which makes the transition accessible to employees willing to adapt.
His comments were very similar to warnings from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. He previously argued that workers could lose their jobs not directly to AI, but to other employees who know how to use the technology effectively.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
Chesky has also described AI as one of the biggest opportunities in Airbnb's history, and argued that businesses willing to transform their operations could benefit enormously from the technology.
