Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need for generalist-type talent in the AI era during a recent special lecture.
In an appearance on KBS1TV's Documentary Insight – Talent Wars 2: Chey Tae-won's Response, which aired on May 28, Chey stated, "We are moving beyond the era of 'reasoning AI,' where machines provide answers to human questions, and are entering a period of 'agentic AI,' where machines will make decisions and take actions independently."
He noted that the gap in capabilities between those who actively utilize AI and those who do not could widen significantly. "Both individuals and organizations will face increasing polarization based on how quickly and effectively they can leverage AI," he explained.
Chey predicted that in the AI era, the importance of generalist-type talent, who can understand and integrate various fields, will surpass that of specialists with expertise in specific areas.
He added, "As AI takes over many tasks, the possibility of multi-job roles will increase, leading to a gradual shift away from the traditional '9 to 6' work model and rigid job definitions."
Chey stressed that individuals must develop new competencies to align with the evolving definition of talent in the AI era. He identified four key competencies as essential for competitiveness: 'thinking muscle,' 'adaptation muscle,' 'empathy muscle,' and 'body skill.'
He also highlighted the need for changes in the education system to foster these competencies. "Schools should transform from mere knowledge transmission spaces to platforms where students can experiment and experience coexistence with AI," he said.
Chey proposed a national strategy to enhance AI competitiveness, outlining three core conditions for South Korea to become a competitive AI nation: speed, scale, and safety. He emphasized the need to accelerate technological advancements, expand large-scale AI infrastructure and investments, and establish a societal and institutional framework that allows citizens to safely utilize AI.
Finally, Chey remarked, "AI talent does not solely refer to engineering students. Education and social systems must rapidly adapt to enable future generations to naturally utilize and coexist with AI."
Industry insiders interpret Chey's remarks as a message that goes beyond mere discussions of AI technology, hinting at potential changes in corporate culture and recruitment practices. As industries such as manufacturing, semiconductors, and energy accelerate their AI transitions, competition for 'convergent talent' is expected to intensify.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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