McKinsey and General Catalyst execs say the era of ‘learn once, work forever’ is over

At CES 2026, a major theme emerged among keynote speakers: the rapid transformation brought about by artificial intelligence is unparalleled in the history of technology. During a live recording of the All-In podcast, co-host Jason Calacanis engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst. The conversation highlighted the profound changes AI is causing in both investment strategies and the workforce. Taneja remarked on the remarkable rise of AI companies, noting that while it took Stripe about 12 years to reach a $100 billion valuation, the AI firm Anthropic skyrocketed from a $60 billion valuation last year to potentially a couple of hundred billion this year. He emphasized that we may be on the brink of welcoming a new generation of trillion-dollar companies, citing names like Anthropic and OpenAI as leading examples. Calacanis probed deeper into the factors driving this explosive growth. Sternfels from McKinsey pointed out that many companies are still testing AI solutions, particularly those outside the tech industry, who are hesitant to fully embrace the technology. Sternfels shared that a common dilemma facing CEOs is whether to heed the advice of their CFOs, who advocate for cautious investment due to perceived low ROI, or their CIOs, who argue that not adopting AI could lead to disruption. Concerns about AI's impact on the job market were also raised during the discussion. Calacanis noted that many are apprehensive, fearing that AI might replace entry-level positions typically occupied by recent graduates. When asked for guidance for young professionals, Sternfels stressed that while AI can perform many tasks, the need for human creativity and sound judgment remains vital in this evolving landscape. Taneja added that continuous learning and skills development must become a lifelong commitment, challenging the traditional notion of spending years in education before entering the workforce. As the conversation progressed, Calacanis acknowledged that in an era where developing an AI agent may take less time than training a new employee, individuals must find ways to maintain their relevance in the job market. He emphasized that standing out will require a unique blend of determination, energy, and passion. Sternfels offered a glimpse into the future of McKinsey, predicting that by the end of 2026, the firm will have as many personalized AI agents as employees. However, he clarified that the overall headcount may not decrease, as the firm aims to increase client-facing positions by 25%, offset by a reduction in back-office roles. This shift underscores the evolving nature of work in an AI-dominated world.