Newsletter: Signs of the Tech Revolution #34
Welcome to our Signs of the Tech Revolution newsletter. This week, you’ll learn:
- Why everyone pretends to know more about AI than they actually do;
- Why do the public and AI experts see the future of AI so differently;
- How Shopify is forcing managers to justify hiring humans over AI;
- Why giants like Walmart and Microsoft are prioritizing skills, not just degrees;
- And more on the latest trends in AI, cloud computing, and the tech industry.
Let’s dive in.
News #1: Public Fears vs. Expert Views On AI
It often feels like the AI discussion happens on separate tracks, doesn’t it?
Pew Research confirms this divide: AI experts largely see sunshine ahead (56% predict a positive impact, 76% see personal benefits), while the public is far more cautious (only 17% positive on impact, 43% fear personal harm).
Job impacts? Experts are mostly optimistic (73% positive), but the public isn’t convinced (only 23%).
Yet, common ground exists: both groups desire more personal control over AI and worry that government regulation won’t keep pace.
News #2: Prove AI Can’t Do Your Job First
Think AI is just a tool? At Shopify, it’s becoming the benchmark for resources.
CEO Tobi Lütke’s new directive is clear: before asking for more headcount, managers must demonstrate why AI can’t handle the task. It reflects a fundamental expectation for staff to leverage AI daily, tackling even "implausible tasks" and achieving massive productivity gains.
This "AI-first" approach to justifying resources, tied to performance reviews amid flat headcount, signals a huge operational shift. It certainly makes you think how many companies will follow Shopify’s decision.
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News #3: Skills Over Degrees
Major players like Walmart, Microsoft, and Blackstone seem to think the four-year degree is losing its value, backing a shift toward skills-based hiring. They’re collaborating on a "Skills-First" initiative to define specific, verifiable skills needed for key roles – think of it as creating a common currency for talent.
They’re mapping out competencies, proficiency levels, and even wage premiums for skills like Python or UX design. It’s a practical response to finding talent and offering clearer career paths, especially when job requirements (like AI skills) change quickly.
It’s a shift in how companies value capability and opens the door for many people who couldn’t afford higher education.
News #4: Agentic AI Across Clouds
Feeling lost in the flood of AI agents? Google Cloud gets it.
At their Cloud Next event, they announced plans to simplify things, launching an "Agent2Agent" protocol so different AI agents can actually work together across platforms.
Big partners like Accenture, Deloitte, and KPMG are all-in, creating ready-to-use agents (Deloitte alone has over 100) for specific industries – think healthcare, finance, and HR. It’s a push to move AI from interesting experiments to real-world tools that automate tasks and deliver tangible ROI.
Making the complex manageable is always a smart business move.
Other News
- About one in eight (80% in the US, 77% in the UK) of employees admit to pretending to know more about AI than they actually do. C-suite executives admit to exaggerating even more – 91% of them exaggerate - Read more
- Key insights from Stanford’s 2025 AI Index, including graphs on performance, investment and public opinion - Read more
- Latest reports show AI model performance improvements show no sign of slowing - Read more
- EU’s push in the global AI race, the new strategy focuses on infrastructure and streamlined regulation - Read more
- White House orders federal agencies to appoint chief AI officers and strategize AI expansion - Read more
- Google is challenging rivals with new AI chips and agent ecosystem developments - Read more
- Google affirms massive $75 billion AI infrastructure bet amidst competitor cutbacks - Read more
- Report highlights increasing cyberattack risk for bots and digital agents - Read more
- IBM targets AI workloads with new z17 mainframe hardware rollout - Read more
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