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The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. The world is at an inflection point unlike any before. AI isnt just a toolits a tidal wave, rewriting the rules of power, wealth, and survival. The corporate dream is in flux. The systems we were taught to trustcollege degrees, career ladders, the safe path to successare morphing in real time. AI is detonating industries, stripping white collar jobs down to algorithms, while the value of human labor is being rewritten before our eyes. The workers we once ignoredthe welders, the electricians, the buildersare skyrocketing in demand. This is not a prediction. Its happening now. The AI arms race: The new Manhattan Project AI is both an unprecedented tool of creation and a force of destruction, reshaping economies, governments, and labor forces at breakneck speed. According to Peng Xiao, CEO of G42, AI is the defining technology of our eraan essential utility that will reshape economies and societies, much like electricity did in the past. AI is recalibrating industries at an unimaginable pace. Meanwhile, the jobs AI cant touchconstruction workers, electricians, welders, mechanicsare becoming more valuable than ever. The AI wrecking ball: Skip Wharton? In 2019, an MBA from an elite school was the equivalent of winning the professional lottery. Today? AI-powered algorithms run finance, operations, and consultingfaster, cheaper, and without a 401(k). Companies like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic have unleashed AI models that make traditional knowledge workers obsolete. Banks are automating the work of employees. At the Cisco AI Summit in Palo Alto this year, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon noted that AI could draft 95% of an S1 document for IPO filing. A recent report states that 23% of 2024 Harvard Business School grads were still unemployed 3 months after graduation. Over 4 million members of Gen Z in the U.S. are currently not employed nor matriculated in school, joining the NEET movement instead: not in education, employment, or trainingand prioritizing self-actualized careers outside of traditional degrees. Meanwhile, something unexpected is happening on the other side of the labor market The jobs AI cant kill (yet) AI cant repair a busted water main, install solar panels, or build a skyscraper. Industry-defining laborers dont disappearthey evolve. In the 19th century, steam engine workers shaped economies. In the 20th century, oil refinery workers fueled the modern world. In the 21st century, AI maintenance workers, robotics technicians, and skilled tradespeople will be the ones keeping automation in check. Skilled labor jobsonce dismissed as fallback careersare now in high demand. The average salary for an electrician in major U.S. cities now outpaces some college-degree salaries. An achievable salary for an elevator technician or power plant operator? Over $100,000. In an age where AI strips knowledge jobs down to data points, the ability to physically build and repair may become the new currency of success. Geopolitics, immigration, and the 2025 labor crisis Theres another wrench in the systemimmigration crackdowns and labor shortages. The U.S. has escalated mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. The fallout? Potentially, abandoned construction sites, rotting crops, and shuttered restaurants. The solution? More automation. Chick-fil-A introduced lemon-squeezing robots, cutting 10,000 hours of labor. But heres the twist: Robots break down. Robots need maintenance. AI cant currently fix AI. The labor shortage is fueling demand for highly paid, hands-on workers who keep machinesand societyrunning. AI: The new arms race The world is racing to control AI, much like the atomic race of the last century. But this war isnt fought with bombsits fought with data, computing power, and intelligent automation. Nations, tech giants, and corporate behemoths are pouring trillions into agentic AIa new breed of AI that autonomously executes tasks. Yet even with AI agents taking over workflows, humans will still be essential. AI still needs oversight. AI still needs repair. AI still needs direction. Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, says it best: No AI can replace 100% of a job, but many can replace 80% of what we do. We are literally at the beginning of a new Industrial Revolution. Social media and the collapse of the corporate dream Some Gen Z and Millennials are rejecting corporate jobs. Social media has reshaped the perception of work. Why grind in a cubicle when you can make a living flipping houses on YouTube? Why get an MBA when you can have a lucrative career teaching people how to weld on TikTok? Why work a 9-to-5 when Kylie Jenner built a billion-dollar empire from Instagram? At the same time, these generations are about to inherit an unprecedented $100 trillion from baby boomersthe wealthiest generation in history. But this isnt just a transfer of capital; its a transfer of knowledge, control, and priorities. The new elite arent climbing the corporate laddertheyre building their own empires. As MrBeast puts it: “The creator economy is only going to get bigger.” The new workforce hierarchy: Who wins and who loses? AI isnt eliminating laborits creating a new elite class of skilled workers required to manage and maintain automation. While AI wipes out jobs, the long-term trajectory is clear: New industries will emerge. Humans will train AI-powered agents and tools. AI maintenance, robotics, and automation oversight will become critical fields. History prove that every disruptive technology creates new opportunities. Wages for some technical jobs are soaring past white collar salaries. The real winners of the AI revolution wont be consultants in boardroomstheyll be the workers keeping the machines running. Elon Musk once said: AI will make jobs kind of pointless. Correction: AI might make your degree pointless. The future belongs to those who can do what AI cant. Scott Cullather is chairman and chief growth officer of INVNT.
Category:
E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Imagine someone with Parkinsons sipping their morning coffee with a steady hand. A person with chronic pain or overactive bladder enjoying simple pleasures like going to the movies, taking a road trip, and a restful sleep. A life changed and potentially saved because signs of colorectal cancer were caught and treated early. These examples represent real people whose lives were changed with healthcare technology. Medical devices and therapies that once seemed like sci-fi are now alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending lives. Artificial intelligence, data, and robotics rightfully get credit for supercharging many recent health tech breakthroughs, but innovation will always be powered by people. Behind every new product is a team of individuals who grew up tinkering, dreaming, and embracing challenges, while ultimately dedicating their careers to improving lives. Yet, as optimistic as we are about the future of health tech and the people behind it, a global talent shortage of 4.3 million tech workers by 2030 threatens innovation. Making matters more urgent, a looming shortage of 11 million health workers could disproportionately impact health outcomes in low-income regions. These arent merely statistics. If left unaddressed, workforce shortages could stall the development of life-saving therapies and compromise the quality of care that all of us deserve. We cant allow that to happen. Could a global challenge also be a needed solution? We think so. Despite global workforce shortages, theres a generation at risk of being left behind. Currently 80% of young adults from low-income communities globally are not able to find a secure job and 65% of students in primary school today will work in jobs that dont currently exist. Many of these will be in fields where early exposure to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) is critical. This raises important questions: What if we could equip a generation with the critical skills needed to meet workforce shortages while also breaking cycles of poverty? And, what if we could change the trajectory of lives while also saving them? We believe this isnt only possibleits essential. Here are three key things that need to happen: 1. College degrees are valuable, but can no longer be the only path to entry In health tech we see how personalization is driving better health outcomes. Now, paths and preparation for careers in our industry (and other innovation-driven fields) must follow suit. The next idea that sparks a health tech breakthrough could come from anywhereor anyone. But heres the stark reality. There are bright students who face significant barriers to a post-graduate degree, even after theyre accepted into a program. According to Jobs for the Future, only 14% of low-income students who attend a four-year college will graduate. We must open new paths to health tech jobs; skills-based training, apprenticeships, and credentialing can all be effective alternatives. At Medtronic weve already worked with InStride to shift 150+ roles from degree-based to skills-based hiring, but we know more must be done. 2. Students need hands-on STEM experiencesearly and often Research from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation found that three-quarters of Gen Z youth are enthusiastic about STEM fields, but only 29% would rank a STEM role as their top career choice. Lack of exposure to STEM concepts, and their real-world application, could be fueling this gap. Similarly, the Smithsonian Science Education Center conducted a five-year study in North and South Carolina. They found that hands-on, innovative STEM education not only improved science achievement but also enhanced reading, math skills, and essential workforce skills like collaboration, problem solving, and creativity. These foundational skills are key to preparing students for future jobs. But students must also know jobs existand see themselves in them. 3. Building awareness of health tech careers must be a priority Every day, health tech innovators are harnessing groundbreaking technologies to improve lives and help close critical gaps in our global healthcare system. Yet despite its cool factor most students will never hear about the health tech industry unless they or a loved one need it. To combat this, we are launching Medtronic Sparka 10-year initiative that aims to address the growing health tech talent gap through three programs: Medtronic Spark Innovator Labs, Medtronic Spark Credentials, and the Medtronic Spark Scholarship. These programs aim to propel 1 million students from low-income households into health tech careers. We know we cant do it alone, but were committed to sparking a conversation that we believe can help fuel the future of healthcare. Our goal isnt to merely touch young peoples lives. It is to truly change the trajectory of their lives with opportunities in health tech that have potential for lasting generational impact. Because at its core, innovation isnt just about technologyits about people. Torod Neptune is senior vice president corporate marketing and global chief communications officer at Medtronic and chairman of Medtronic Foundation. Sally Saba, MD is the president of Medtronic Foundation and global chief inclusion and diversity officer at Medtronic.
Category:
E-Commerce
Google’s logo just got a little bit blurrier. In a new logo quietly rolled out across iOS and Pixel, the search giant ditches its color-blocked G for gradients. Google’s new logo keeps the same letterform, as well as the bright red-yellow-green-blue color sequence, but now those colors blur into each other. The new G is Google’s biggest update to its visual identity since retiring serifs for its current sans-serif font, Product Sans, in 2015. [Images: Google] Why a gradient? In 2013, Google was among the first tech companies to move from skeuomorphic, dimensional lettering to a flat logo design. It arguably ushered in the blanding eraa moment when companies embraced simpler sans-serif logos. This was both an aesthetic and utilitarian choice: A simple, flat design conveyed the sense of efficient functionality that underpins modern technology. It also made it easier for companies to show up across the many screens and media required in the current media landscape. Google’s G took this idea even further, reducing the company’s famous wordmark down to a single letter icon in 2015. That first G was playful enough with is color blocking. But a decade on, it’s easy to see how it feels representative of a different moment on the internet. A gradient is a safe choice for the new G. Tech has long been a fan of using gradients in its logos, apps, and branding, with platforms like Instagram and Apple Music tapping into the effect a decade ago. Still today, gradients remain popular, owing to their middle-ground approach to design. They’re safe but visually interesting, soft but defined. They basically go with anything, thanks to their color wheel aesthetic. Other Google-owned products have already embraced gradients. YouTube is now using a new red-to-magenta gradient in its user interface (UI), and Gemini, Google’s AI tool, also uses them. Now it’s bringing the design element to its flagship Google app. The change to Google’s logo is so subtle that some users might not immediately notice the difference on their phones. And the effect hasn’t shown up in other applications like Gmail or Google Maps, where it will be more identifiable. Still, it’s not a small change for a behemoth of a company. We’ll never know how many meetings, iterations, and deliberations went into making that little blur effectbut we can safely guess it was many.
Category:
E-Commerce
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