If you’ve been bracing for a robot takeover, IBM’s latest research may offer some relief — and a reason to update your resume.
In a sweeping global study of 3,000 C-suite executives, IBM found that while nearly 40% of the workforce will need to reskill in the next three years due to AI and automation, the majority of companies aren’t cutting jobs. They’re investing in people; in many cases, paying them more.
“AI won’t replace people — but people who use AI will replace people who don’t,” the report states.
Workers who use AI are earning more
One of the biggest surprises from the IBM study suggests that AI adopters are getting a raise.
Executives say roles that integrate AI tools are commanding a wage premium, particularly for employees who know how to prompt, fine-tune and collaborate with AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. This signals a growing demand for “AI fluency” across departments beyond tech and engineering careers.
In other words, employees using AI to create spreadsheets, research faster and write smarter, are more likely to succeed.
IBM also found that organizations focused on reskilling are 63% more likely to outperform their competitors in revenue growth, and 44% more likely to report customer satisfaction gains.
Not all layoffs are AI-driven
The findings arrive amid a wave of high-profile layoffs at tech companies. Amazon alone cut more than 14,000 corporate jobs last month. But CEO Andy Jassy insists the decision wasn’t about AI replacing humans.
“This is not about costs, and it’s not about AI,” Jassy told Business Insider. “It’s about culture.”
He explained that Amazon is removing unnecessary layers to operate more like a startup — faster, flatter and with fewer middle managers, making it clear that the restructuring was internal, not AI-driven.
Knowing this is important. While AI may automate repetitive tasks, many companies are redistributing talent — not eliminating it — and leaning into what humans still do best.
The takeaway
Instead of fearing job loss, workers might want to focus on how to level up, using AI as a partner, not a threat.
Tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini are becoming everyday sidekicks for professionals in marketing, HR, finance and beyond. Vibe coding, contextual reasoning and AI-enhanced collaboration are now critical workplace skills.
AI isn’t the end of jobs, but what it is showing us it that it's the beginning of a smarter, more empowered workforce where the best-paid employees aren’t the ones who fear AI, but the ones who learn to use it.
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