Only 5% of organizations have the workforce skills needed for the AI era, according to ExecOnline research
By Juan Carlos Pedreira, Cedrela Confidential
Las Vegas
Executives at CES 2025 issued a stark warning: businesses are racing to integrate AI, but most of their employees aren’t ready for the transition. According to a study from ExecOnline, only 5% of companies report having the necessary skills to navigate an AI-driven future. This revelation set the tone for the panel “Embracing AI: Revolutionizing the Future of Work,” where leaders from HP, EMD, and Visa explored how businesses must overhaul their strategies to adapt.
“We’re at this incredible, transitional moment. AI is reshaping work faster than we expected, and most organizations aren’t prepared for the shift”, said Julia Alexander, co-founder of ExecOnline
With two-thirds of business leaders reporting burnout from navigating these changes, the conversation focused on the urgent need for upskilling, leadership evolution, and AI’s role in transforming workforce structures.
AI Is Reshaping Entire Industries—Are We Training the Right Talent?
One of the biggest challenges companies face is the growing gap between AI’s rapid adoption and the workforce’s ability to keep up. EMD, a key supplier for the semiconductor industry, highlighted the urgency of workforce development.
“We need more people in STEM. The reality is, we don’t have enough future scientists”, said Daniel Drellich, Managing Director EMD Electronics
To combat this, EMD is focusing on K-12 education programs to spark interest in technical careers at an early stage. However, the problem extends beyond specialized fields—workers across all industries must understand how to integrate AI into their daily tasks.
“Maybe you’re not going to be a scientist, but you still need to understand how to use this technology”, Drellich added
This shift is already forcing companies to rethink job roles. Employees once responsible for manual processes like scheduling and quality control are now expected to analyze workloads, optimize AI models, and manage human-AI collaboration.
To bridge this transition, companies are introducing “translator roles”—subject matter experts who work closely with digital teams to upskill colleagues.
Your Job Won’t Be Replaced by AI—But It Will Be Replaced by Someone Who Knows How to Use It
One of the most striking takeaways from the discussion was the fundamental reshaping of roles in an AI-enabled workplace. Traditional job descriptions are quickly becoming obsolete.
“Your job won’t be replaced by AI—it will be replaced by a human who knows how to use AI”, warned one panelists
To bridge this transition, companies are introducing “translator roles”—subject matter experts who work closely with digital teams to upskill colleagues. These roles ensure that AI is effectively implemented without leaving employees behind.
“We’re seeing companies invest in employees who can act as bridges between AI systems and teams. These individuals are critical in ensuring smooth adoption across organizations”, added Loretta Li-Sevilla, Global Head of Future of Work and Services at HP Inc.
However, not all companies are taking proactive steps, raising concerns about widening skill gaps and job displacement.
AI Leadership: The New Rules for the C-Suite
AI isn’t just changing the workforce—it’s transforming leadership itself. The discussion at CES 2025 emphasized that empathy, adaptability, and AI fluency are now essential traits for business leaders.
“Leaders must connect with their employees on a deeper level. People are scared about what AI means for their careers, and it’s up to leadership to guide them through this transition”, said Tom Andriola, Vice Chancellor at UC Irvine
Panelists stressed the importance of creating experimental AI “playgrounds” where employees can explore new tools in a risk-free environment.
“We let our teams experiment with AI to find use cases we hadn’t even considered. This kind of hands-on experience is invaluable”, noted Li-Sevilla
As AI forces companies to become more global and cross-functional, leadership structures must evolve accordingly. Managing diverse, distributed teams will require a shift from traditional hierarchical models to more decentralized decision-making.
The Dark Side of AI: Bias and Representation
While AI offers immense potential, panelists warned that it also carries significant risks—especially when it comes to bias and representation.
“If the teams designing AI systems don’t reflect the diversity of their customers and employees, the results will be flawed”, cautioned Claire Shapiro, Director of Insights & Product Strategy at Visa
Bias in AI models can lead to skewed hiring algorithms, flawed credit scoring systems, and inaccurate healthcare recommendations. Companies must be intentional about building diverse AI teams and ensuring transparency in AI decision-making.
“It’s not just about training AI—it’s about training it with the right data”, said Shapiro
AI Agents Are Making Decisions for You—Who Controls Them?
One of the most thought-provoking moments of the panel came when speakers discussed the rise of AI agents making decisions on behalf of consumers.
“Imagine an AI agent purchasing products, booking services, and even negotiating contracts for you. This fundamentally changes how businesses interact with customers”, said Shapiro
However, this raises a critical governance question: Who decides what AI decides?
“The challenge isn’t just building AI—it’s ensuring we have the right frameworks in place to manage its decisions”, the executive added
The discussion emphasized the need for cross-functional AI governance teams to prevent unintended consequences and ensure ethical deployment.
The Future of Work: A Call to Action
As CES 2025 made clear, AI isn’t a distant future—it’s here, and businesses must act now. The workforce is at a critical inflection point, and organizations that fail to adapt will be left behind.
Executives urged companies to take three immediate steps:
