As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, the value of traditional technical skills like coding is being re-evaluated.
Peter Schwartz, Salesforce’s chief futures officer, believes that in the age of AI, the most crucial skill employees need isn’t technical at all — it’s empathy.
Speaking at the ATxSummit in Singapore, Schwartz told Business Insider that coding is no longer the ultimate requirement in a future dominated by artificial intelligence.
Empathy Over Code
In his interview, Schwartz recounted frequent questions from parents who ask what their children should study.
“Shall they be coders?” they ask.
“I say, learn how to work with others,” Schwartz responded.
He elaborated that empathy — the ability to understand and relate to others — is now the most valuable workplace skill.
“Empathy is the ability to collaborate and to creatively work together,” he said.
“That will be the most important thing because the AIs can deal with all the routine stuff.”
Hard to Measure, But Easy to Feel
When asked how to assess empathy in candidates, Schwartz admitted it’s difficult to quantify.
“I don’t have a good answer,” he confessed.
“But that’s what I am looking for. I look for that empathy — that this is a person who’s really going to be a great teammate, somebody I can work closely with.”
This focus reflects a growing awareness that collaboration, creativity, and human connection are becoming key differentiators in an AI-enhanced world.
AI’s Impact on Coding Roles
Even within tech giants like Salesforce, the role of coders is being dramatically reshaped.
Earlier in 2024, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff mentioned that the company might not hire new software engineers in 2025.
The reason? AI agents are significantly boosting existing coders’ productivity.
Schwartz described the change as “huge.”
“We’ve seen a massive increase in productivity of our coders because they have the tools to be able to do coding much faster — frankly, more creatively,” he said.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai echoed similar sentiments during the company’s Q3 earnings call, revealing that more than a quarter of Google’s new code was written by AI.
Demand for Engineers is Falling
The reliance on AI for coding has begun to influence the job market.
Job postings for software engineers on platforms like Indeed have reached a five-year low.
This trend has sparked speculation among product managers and tech leaders that AI could replace certain technical roles.
The Value of Critical Thinking and Adaptability
Despite the changes, foundational knowledge still matters.
Some leaders, like Mark Zuckerberg, believe in the enduring importance of learning deeply and thinking critically.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Zuckerberg emphasized, “The most important skill is learning how to think critically and learning values when you’re young.”
He added, “If people have shown that they can go deep and do one thing really well, then they’ve probably gained experience in the art of learning something.”
Conclusion
While AI continues to reshape the workforce, one truth is becoming clear — the human ability to understand, empathize, and collaborate is becoming a critical asset.
As automation takes over repetitive tasks, companies will increasingly seek employees who can build relationships, navigate complexity, and contribute meaningfully to team dynamics.
Empathy may not be a line of code, but in the AI era, it could be the most valuable skill of all.