Former OpenAI exec has an easy trick for surviving AI in the workplace

Former OpenAI exec Zack Kass says human qualities like courage and wisdom will help you survive AI in the workplace. Also: Don't be an 'asshole.'

• The AI revolution has sparked fears that machines will replace human workers.
• But former OpenAI exec Zack Kass told BI that human qualities will become even more essential.
• And he offered one simple way to set yourself apart: Be likable.

Workers are worried about competing with machines for jobs as the AI revolution takes off.

But in a world where AI can code, write, and analyze data proficiently, what makes us "human" matters maybe more than ever, Zack Kass, a former exec at OpenAI, told Business Insider.

That means leaning into areas where humans still outpace AI — like critical thinking.

In the coming years, it'll be more important that we "hire lawyers not for how fast they are, but for how well they understand a problem really uniquely," Kass said.

He said it'll also be critical to embrace what makes you likable, someone with whom other humans ultimately want to work.

"AI is going to commoditize most of our knowledge and many of our skills," Kass later wrote by email. So our "immutable human qualities" like "courage, vision, wisdom, empathy" will become more important.

Those qualities could also set you apart as AI takes over tasks for workers at all levels. Studies have already shown that AI is bound to be an equalizer in the workplace. So, Kass says, workers should emphasize their personal qualities.

"Why would anyone hire 'assholes' in a world where everyone is smart," he said with a laugh.

A workforce made up of likable people can also boost a company's bottom line. People with work friends are not only more likely to stay in their jobs, but they're also more productive, engaged, happier, and healthier.