David Rubenstein, co-founder of private equity firm Carlyle Group Inc (NASDAQ: CG), has advised young workers to maintain three fundamental skills—reading, speaking, and writing—as artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce. Speaking to Business Insider, Rubenstein, who is 77 years old, noted that while AI chatbots are increasingly used for reading and writing, the ability to distinguish between high-quality and poor writing remains crucial.
Rubenstein emphasized that these basic skills have contributed to success for thousands of years and are unlikely to disappear. He also encouraged young people to seek work they enjoy, citing the sentiment that "nobody ever won a Nobel Prize hating what they do."
Other industry figures echoed the importance of human-centric skills. Anthony Salcito, senior vice president and president of Enterprise at Coursera Inc (NYSE: COUR), stated that AI is reducing the need for some skills while increasing the demand for critical thinking, leadership, and communication. Former Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) Business Division President Jeff Raikes warned that "AI literacy without critical thinking is not a workforce strategy," adding that companies relying on AI for entry-level tasks could create a "talent debt."
Regarding his own career, Rubenstein said he does not plan to retire soon. He explained that he and many of his peers continue to work hard in their mid-70s because they "don't want to get off the stage." He added that he worries about the risk of dying shortly after retirement and stated, "So I'm not retiring anytime soon."
