Amazon Web Services CEO Emphasizes Critical Thinking as Key Skill in AI Era

Amazon Web Services CEO: I told my own teenager to develop this No. 1 'most important skill' to succeed in the AI age

Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, speaks during the WSJ Tech Live conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal at the Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California, on October 21, 2024. Contrary to popular belief, you won't need a machine learning degree or other highly technical skills to succeed in the near future, according to Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman. As more artificial intelligence-powered tools get integrated into the workplace, employers will prioritize hiring workers with "soft skills" like creativity and adaptability, Garman told CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Friday. His advice to his own child, a rising high school senior, he said: Develop your critical thinking skills in college, no matter what subject you study. "I think part of going to college is building [your] critical thinking," Garman said. "It's less about the development of skills and it really is [about] how do you become a critical thinker? In some ways, I think that's actually going to be the most important skill going forward." Critical thinking skills will be most people's No. 1 biggest key to success in the age of AI, he added. "You're going to want to be creative. You're going to want to be [good at] critical thinking. And you're going to want to be flexible," said Garman. "I think the ability to learn new things and adapt is going to be just as important as any particular skill that you learn." Help us help you: Take our survey on work, money and life goals The list of skills and administrative tasks that AI tools can replicate continues to grow, seemingly each day. Amazon, Garman's employer, is among the multiple companies that have announced plans to reduce their corporate workforces while adopting more AI tools and agents in the coming years. But AI is no match for human intellect when it comes to using critical thinking and creativity to generate new ideas and make nuanced judgments, research shows. It could be "the most valuable skill of the future" for human workers, particularly those tasked with curating and refining the output of AI tools, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said during an event hosted by Howard University in January 2024. "AI can generate lots of great ideas, but you still need a human there to say, 'This is the thing other people want,'" said Altman. Students can hone and apply their critical thinking skills across pretty much any area of study. Current workers can improve them through daily habits ranging from playing strategic board games to asking more questions, research shows. Multiple online courses say they'll help you improve your critical thinking and communication skills, including one offered for free through Harvard University and edX. Once you've developed those skills, you can showcase them to your current or prospective employers by highlighting examples of difficult problems you've solved at work -- or asking thoughtful, purposeful questions that reflect your curiosity and communication skills, LinkedIn career expert Andrew McCaskill told Make It in January 2022.

Top Amazon executive reveals the key skill he urged his son to build in college to stay ahead in AI era: 'It's going to be the most important skill'

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman advises focusing on critical thinking, adaptability, and communication skills for future career success, even more than technical expertise. He emphasizes that while AI can generate ideas, human judgment, empathy, and the ability to connect meaningfully remain essential. These soft skills are increasingly valuable in various fields, driving promotions and job satisfaction. As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms workplaces, many assume mastering coding, data science, or machine learning will be the golden ticket to career success. But Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman says otherwise -- and the advice he gave his own son reveals what he believes will matter most in the years ahead. Speaking to CNBC's Closing Bell, Garman said that in an era where AI handles more and more technical tasks, soft skills like creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking will define the winners of the future workforce. Garman's guidance to his son, a rising high school senior, was simple: focus on building critical thinking skills in college, regardless of your major. "I think part of going to college is building your critical thinking," he said. "It's less about the development of specific skills and more about how you become a critical thinker. In some ways, I think that's actually going to be the most important skill going forward." Research supports this. A 2023 study in Heliyon found that even in highly technical sectors, over 40% of in-demand skills were human-centric -- including problem-solving, flexibility, and strategic decision-making -- areas where AI still falls short. Garman stressed that while AI can generate ideas, humans remain essential for judging which ones have real-world value. This sentiment echoes remarks by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who said at a Howard University event that AI's output still needs human curation, creativity, and nuance to meet actual needs. "AI can generate lots of great ideas," Altman said, "but you still need a human there to say, 'This is the thing other people want.'" Beyond critical thinking, Garman highlighted adaptability -- the ability to embrace new technologies without resistance -- and communication skills as equally vital. These are areas where humans' emotional intelligence, empathy, and ability to read social cues still give them a competitive edge. As USA Today recently reported, while AI may excel at processing data or automating tasks, it can't replicate the trust, empathy, and interpersonal finesse required to lead teams or navigate complex human relationships. Career strategist Madeline Mann calls these "highly transferable skills" that influence how others experience and value you in the workplace. In fields as diverse as medicine, logistics, and engineering, soft skills have proven to be directly tied to promotions, job satisfaction, and long-term career growth. The 2025 LinkedIn Workplace Trends Report even placed communication at the top of its most in-demand skills list. For current workers, honing these skills doesn't require a classroom. Strategic board games, asking insightful questions, and actively seeking feedback can all improve critical thinking and adaptability. For students, any discipline -- from history to physics -- can be a playground for sharpening the mind. As Garman put it, the real advantage will belong to those who can learn quickly, think independently, and connect meaningfully with others. "Those people skills are going to continue to be super important for a long time," he said. In an AI-driven world, your most valuable career asset may not be a technical certification. It may be the very thing AI still struggles to grasp -- your human ability to think, adapt, and connect.