McKinsey and General Catalyst execs say the era of 'learn once, work forever' is over | TechCrunch

"If there is one point of consensus among the CES 2026 keynote speakers, it is that AI is reshaping technology with a speed and scale unlike any previous technological revolution. In a live taping on Tuesday of the All-In podcast, co-host Jason Calacanis interviewed Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company, and Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst. Their discussion focused on how AI is transforming investment strategies and the workforce."

""The world has completely changed," Taneja said about the unprecedented growth of AI companies. He noted that while it took Stripe about 12 years to reach a $100 billion valuation, Anthropic, another General Catalyst portfolio company, soared from a $60 billion valuation last year to a "couple hundred billion dollars" this year. Taneja believes we are on the verge of seeing a new wave of trillion-dollar companies."

"According to McKinsey's Sternfels, while many companies are testing AI products, non-tech enterprises remain on the fence about full adoption. Sternfels says the question that McKinsey consultants often hear from CEOs is: "Do I listen to my CFO or my CIO right now?" CFOs, seeing little return on investment, argue for delaying implementation. Meanwhile, CIOs claim it's "crazy" not to adopt AI because "we'll be disrupted," Sternfels said."

AI is reshaping technology with unprecedented speed and scale. AI-driven valuation growth has accelerated dramatically compared with past tech companies. One company rose from a $60 billion valuation last year to a couple hundred billion dollars this year, while another took about 12 years to reach $100 billion. A new wave of potential trillion-dollar companies is emerging around leading AI developers. Many non-tech enterprises remain cautious about full AI adoption, with finance leaders citing limited returns and urging delay, while IT leaders warn adoption is necessary to avoid disruption. Concerns exist about AI displacing entry-level roles and recent graduates. Sound judgment and creativity remain essential human skills.

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