The Next Generation at Work: Guiding AI’s Role in Jobs

AI is poised to reshape the way we work, but the direction it takes will ultimately be shaped by our decisions. The newest generation entering the workforce is already making their expectations clear: they want technology that enhances human judgment, broadens opportunity, and ensures people remain the ones guiding the future—not the other way around.

As AI evolves, our focus should be on using it to strengthen human capability—helping people build new skills, explore new possibilities, and engage in work that feels meaningful. History shows that major technological shifts tend to expand what humans can achieve, not diminish it.

Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President, recently underscored this same idea: technology should empower people, not push them aside. He points out that every wave of innovation has created new kinds of work, new industries, and new ways for human ambition to grow. And today’s graduates—who have already adapted through rapid change—are uniquely positioned to help steer AI toward a future grounded in agency, dignity, and purpose.

To learn more about Brad Smith’s perspective on the direction of AI, please read his reflections on Microsoft On the Issues how we can shape this moment with intention and human values at the center.