Mohammedia – Artificial intelligence dominated conversations at CES 2026, with industry leaders agreeing that the pace and scale of change now underway has no real historical parallel.
That consensus was on display during a live taping of the All-In podcast yesterday, where co-host Jason Calacanis spoke with Bob Sternfels, global managing partner of McKinsey & Company, and Hemant Taneja, chief executive of venture capital firm General Catalyst.
The discussion centered on how AI is reshaping investment priorities, company building, and the structure of the workforce.
Taneja pointed to the rapid rise of AI-focused companies as evidence of a fundamental shift in how value is being created.
He contrasted the growth trajectory of newer AI firms with earlier technology success stories, noting that companies can now reach massive valuations in a fraction of the time it once took.
According to Taneja, this acceleration has made the emergence of trillion dollar companies in the AI sector a tangible reality rather than a distant ambition.
Sternfels offered a more cautious view from the perspective of large enterprises. While experimentation with AI tools is widespread, he said many non-technology companies remain hesitant to fully commit.
Executives are often caught between financial leaders who see limited short-term returns and technology leaders who argue that delaying adoption risks long-term disruption.
This tension, he said, has become one of the most common strategic debates inside boardrooms.
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The conversation also turned to the impact of AI on jobs, particularly for younger workers entering the labor market.
Calacanis raised concerns about whether entry-level roles could disappear as AI systems take on more routine tasks.
Both Sternfels and Taneja emphasized that while AI can automate certain functions, it does not replace the need for human judgment, creativity, and decision-making.
Sternfels said these qualities will become even more valuable as AI becomes embedded across organizations.
At McKinsey, he expects the number of internal AI agents to roughly match the number of employees by the end of 2026.
He stressed, however, that this shift does not imply a smaller workforce. Instead, the firm is rebalancing roles by expanding client-facing positions while reducing back-office functions.
Taneja highlighted the need for continuous learning as AI reshapes work. He said the traditional model of education followed by decades of static employment is no longer viable.
Calacanis echoed that view, adding that adaptability, motivation, and initiative will be critical for individuals looking to remain competitive in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
