Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has warned that the biggest risk to workers in the AI era is not the technology itself but the people who refuse to change. In a recent interview on the Invest Like The Best podcast, Chesky named two groups that will not survive the shift: pure people managers and employees who are rigid and resist evolution. This insight is important for anyone thinking about how AI will affect jobs in the near future.
Key Takeaways
- Chesky says pure people managers will lose value as AI takes over routine tasks
- Workers who refuse to adapt to AI risk becoming irrelevant
- Managers must become hybrid contributors, blending leadership with technical work
Chesky explained that as AI tools become part of everyday work, managers can no longer focus only on meetings and team morale. They must become “hybrid people managers” who also understand the technical side of the work they oversee. This means staying involved in the actual product and using AI to improve processes, rather than just supervising staff.
“The two types of people who will not make the shift to AI are pure people managers, and people that are rigid and don’t want to change and evolve,”
“I don’t think people managers will have any value in the future. When I mean people managers, [I mean] people that only manage people,”
Pure people managers, according to Chesky, are those who act only as therapists or meeting facilitators. They do not engage with the actual work output. In the AI age, this role loses its purpose because AI can handle many coordination tasks, and the remaining value lies in technical contribution and product knowledge.
Workers who are rigid and refuse to learn new tools also face a tough future. Chesky says that believing you can avoid AI is a mistake. Employees need to experiment with AI, understand its strengths, and incorporate it into their daily tasks. Those who stay stuck in old habits will find themselves left behind as companies adopt faster, smarter processes.
Learning from Design Leaders McDonalds News
Chesky pointed to former Apple design chief Jony Ive as an example of a leader who blended design expertise with people management. Ive succeeded because he stayed close to the product while guiding his team. This balance is what modern managers need to aim for: staying technically savvy while still supporting their staff.
The message from Chesky is clear: adapt or risk becoming irrelevant. Companies will look for employees who can use AI to boost efficiency and creativity. By becoming hybrid contributors, workers can keep their jobs and even find new opportunities in a changing landscape. The future of work will reward those who learn, experiment, and evolve with AI.
