"A new global survey encompassing the views of 1,540 board members and C-suite executives reveals that while corporate leaders are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) with optimism, a far more profound and existential talent crisis is emerging: the disappearance of the pathways that traditionally developed senior-level strategic expertise. AI is exposing not merely a lack of technical skills, but a critical thinking gap threatening the organizational pipeline needed to oversee and optimize these powerful new systems. In a moderated discussion with Joe Kornik, Senior Director, Editorial Programs, Protiviti, a series of experts and top executives from the consulting firm revealed the biggest concerns on executives' minds heading into 2026, during a lunchtime panel in New York City."
"The talent issue persists as a major concern, Kornik said, citing the survey, ranking fifth among long-term risk themes and remaining one of the long-staying issues executives expect to navigate through 2035. However, the current era of shortages is unique. Fran Maxwell, Protiviti's Global Leader: CHRO Solution and People & Change Segment, noted this pervasive skills challenge is "more prevalent now than it has ever been in the past," impacting "almost every job and every resource" rather than being confined mainly to IT functions, as previous technology shifts were."
"Dr. Mark Beasley, Professor and Director at North Carolina State University's Poole College of Management, who has been affiliated with the Protiviti survey for 14 years, highlighted this profound shift in the required skill set. "I have to say AI is way different in the sense of it is now replacing the job," he said, "whereas the others [big technological advances] were not job replacements as much as enhancers." This displacement forces a change in human capability, as the focus is no longer on execution. The required skill set is shifting from whether workers can do certain tasks"
A global survey of 1,540 board members and C-suite executives shows corporate leaders are optimistic about AI but face a deep talent crisis as pathways to develop senior-level strategic expertise disappear. AI highlights deficiencies beyond technical skills, exposing a critical thinking gap that threatens the organizational pipeline needed to oversee and optimize AI systems. The talent issue ranks among long-term risk themes and is expected to persist through 2035. Skills shortages are widespread across nearly every job and resource, and AI is shifting human capability away from execution toward higher-level strategic responsibilities.
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