LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky has stated that artificial intelligence is driving a significant rebranding of so-called 'soft skills' in the professional world. In an interview on the "Tools and Weapons" podcast, he argued that as AI automates routine tasks, it elevates four human-centred skills: curiosity, courage, communication, and compassion.
"These turn out to be some really, really important skills to do your job well," Roslansky said. His perspective, informed by LinkedIn's market data, presents a contrast to more disruptive predictions about AI's impact on employment from other Silicon Valley figures.
A More Hopeful Vision of AI's Impact
Roslansky's vision is notably less jarring than some of his peers. Instead of predicting the end of jobs, he suggests AI is encouraging workers to view their roles as a "collection of tasks" rather than a fixed title. He categorises these tasks into three groups: those AI can fully automate, those it can augment, and those that remain deeply human.
Tasks like resolving conflict, persuading a team, or setting strategy fall into the final category. "These skills, they're important, but they've historically been talked about as soft skills," Roslansky noted. He believes a professional world where people hone these crafts will be "a lot better."
Contrasting Silicon Valley Predictions
The LinkedIn CEO's outlook stands in contrast to other prominent voices. This year, OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla predicted today's five-year-olds won't need a job, while Boris Cherny, creator of Anthropic's Claude Code, said the job title "software engineer" will fade away. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently suggested high-paid engineers should spend half their salary on AI tokens.
Roslansky did not cite specific LinkedIn data figures during the interview but maintains a broad view of the job market from the platform's insights.
Freeing Time for Human Connection
As AI handles more automated responsibilities, Roslansky argues it can free up time for coworker conversations, thereby putting a greater premium on communication, judgment, and emotional intelligence. "The focus and emphasis on those, along with the AI, is what I think gives us the opportunity to dream big," he stated.
This thought process has given him a hopeful view of AI's future, though he acknowledged he could be wrong. "Sometimes when you're mired in the technology... it leads you to some dark places," Roslansky admitted. "I believe that humans play such an integral role in shaping where that technology should go."