Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky warns of AI risks for specific worker groups

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has identified two specific categories of workers who may struggle to adapt to the era of artificial intelligence: “pure people managers” and individuals who are resistant to change.

Speaking on the ‘Invest Like The Best’ podcast, Chesky argued that traditional management roles focused solely on coordination, meetings, and supervision may lose value. He suggested that effective future leaders must combine people management with direct, practical expertise in their team’s specific field. For instance, he noted that a design leader should actively understand design rather than merely coordinating designers.

Additionally, Chesky warned that employees who remain rigid and refuse to evolve alongside new technologies could find themselves at a professional disadvantage. As AI begins to automate administrative tasks such as document summarization, report preparation, and data analysis, the organizational structure of many companies is expected to shift.