While artificial intelligence transforms industries and upsets traditional workflows, one thing is clear: technological literacy is no longer optional – it is essential competence to prosper in the future of work.
Whether you are a recent graduate, a professional in mid-career or a experienced framework, understanding emerging technologies, in particular artificial intelligence (AI), quickly becomes a requirement for professional survival and commercial competitiveness.
“We have passed the point where AI is only a fashionable word,” said Mike Grandinettithat teaches the course Master the generator in your business As part of the Babson vocational and executive training portfolio. “Technological literacy is now a basic leadership competence, not just something for engineers or coders.”
The World Economic Forum has listed technological literacy as one of the main essential skills for labor in its 2025 Future report of jobs. Technological literacy, or the ability to use, understand, manage and effectively assess technology involves having technological knowledge, understanding techniques and using them with capacity.
Grandinetti, IA expert and industry scholarship Babson Professional and Executive EducationLooked at the labor market that is quickly changing from the first hand, where even entry -level jobs in prestigious fields such as investment banking, public accounting and management advice expires or are redefined to require two to five years of professional experience and a high level of competence with generators' tools.
Meanwhile, emerging technologies such as agentic AI systems – capable of completing tasks in several stages independently – are starting to replace the traditional “growling work” that many roles need.
“The teams of the future will be hybrid teams,” said Grandinetti. “And that doesn't just mean workers remotely.”
Why technological literacy is commercial literacy
For Jonathan SimsAssociate Professor for Strategic Management and Leader of The generator‘sAI and experiential learning Specialty Lab, understanding technology is more than gaining skills from the 21st century – it is a question of remaining curious, adaptive and strategically literate.
“We have gone from a world where AI was just something you read, in a place where it is something with which you interact every day. If you do not know how to use it, you are not only late – you are disadvantaged,” said Sims.
Sims and others of the generator believe that it is important to integrate information and communications technologies and Artificial intelligence skills in each area. Tools such as deep research agents and ambient coding (prototyping of applications motivated by AI through natural language) have become game changes for entrepreneurs and professionals. The tools allow non-codeurs to create prototypes of working products in hours, carry out market studies in a few minutes and acquire specific expertise in the field previously accessible only to specialists.
“The construction of useful AI systems no longer requires how to code,” said Sims. “But that requires curiosity – stay up to date on the different ways in which AI can be used to improve your strategic thinking – it is the skills of the 21st century that we must teach.”
The new stack of skills in AI
Artificial intelligence skills now cover a wide range of skills. In terms of the basic line, encourage skills: know how to effectively interact with AI tools such as Chatgpt or Claude. More advanced users learn to use agenic AI to automate workflows or conduct “in -depth research” between thousands of sources.
And then there is an atmosphere coding, which eliminates the need to know the traditional programming languages. Instead, users describe what they want in natural language, and AI builds it.
“Whether you try to prototyper a product, diagnose a commercial problem or even create a personal learning roadmap, AI is the co -pilot that allows you to go faster and further,” said Sims.
For professionals in mid-Carrier who may feel left behind, the two teachers offer an empowerment message. “If you can talk and type, you can use AI,” said Grandinetti. “We have taught construction leaders, health professionals and insurance managers how to integrate these tools. Once they have seen what is possible, it's like giving someone superpower. ”
Lifelong learning as a strategic imperative
The call for technological skills is not only academic – it is urgent. Companies such as Shopify, Duolingo and Fiverr have declared themselves “IA-STIF”, which means that new hires are only done if AI can not do the work.
During the recent Aspen Ideas Annual Festival, the CEO of Ford Motor Company, Jim Farley, issued a striking warning on the future impact of AI within the company and on the workforce of American works which received attention to the media. His message? The AI is likely to cause deep changes in the structure of business labor.
“Life learning is no longer pleasant. It is essential if you want to stay used, and even less competitive. ”
Mike Grandinetti, industry scholarship holder at Babson Professional and Executive Education
“The future belongs to the curious,” said Grandinetti. “Life learning is no longer pleasant. It is essential if you want to stay used, and even less competitive. ”
Babson Professional and executive training courses are designed with this urgency in mind. The objective is to allow learners to adapt, experiment and direct to a time defined by an exponential change.
As Sims said, “We write our own programs now. AI can help us fill the gaps in our knowledge and open entirely new areas of possibility. But only if we choose to remain curious. ”
Learn more about the Babson vocational and executive training portfolio, including live, Babson on demand™, and mixed Course for individuals; Development of leadership Programs for organizations; opportunities for advanced students and educators at Babson Academy; And Government leadership programs.
Published in Knowledge