Tony Stanoff is the CTO and co-founder Eliseai
In the 2010s, tech companies chased staff-level experts: back-end engineers, data scientists, system architects. This model worked as technology slowly evolved. Experts knew their craft, could quickly and deliver careers on predictable foundations like cloud infrastructure or the latest JS framework.
Then Ai went mainstream.
The pace of change has exploded. New technologies appear and mature in less than a year. You can’t hire someone who has been building AI agents for five years, because the technology hasn’t existed that long. People today are not the ones who thrive the longest. They are the ones who learn fast, adapt fast and work without waiting for direction. Nowhere is this change more evident than in software engineering, which has experienced perhaps the most dramatic change of all, evolving faster than almost any other field of work.
How AI is Rewriting the Rules
AI has lowered the barrier to complex technical work, technical skills, and raised expectations of what counts as real expertise. McKinsey estimates that by 2030, Up to 30% over US working hours Automation may occur and 12 million workers may need to change roles entirely. Technical depth still matters, but AI favors people who can figure things out as they go.
At my company, I see it every day. Engineers who have never touched front-end code are now building UIS, while front-end developers are moving into back-end work. The technology is getting easier to use but the problems are harder because they have more subjects.
In such an environment, being great at one thing is not enough. What’s important is the ability to bridge engineering, products, and operations to make good decisions, even with incomplete information.
Despite all the excitement, only 1% of companies consider themselves truly savvy about how they use AI. Many people still rely on structures designed for the slow era.
Characteristics of a strong journalist
A strong journalist has breadth without losing depth. They go deep in one or two domains but remain fluent in many. As David Epstein puts it limit“You have people walking around with all the knowledge of humanity on your phone, but they have no idea how to integrate it. We don’t train people to think or reason.” Real mastery comes from connecting the dots, not just gathering information.
The best generalists share these traits:
Ownership: End-to-end accountability for results, not just work.
First principles thinking: Focus on the question’s assumptions, purpose, and reframe if necessary.
Adaptation: Learn new domains quickly and move between them easily.
Agency: Work without waiting for approval and adjust along with new information.
Soft skills: Communicate clearly, align teams and keep customer needs in focus.
Range: Solve different types of problems and draw lessons in context.
I try to prioritize accountability for my teams. Everyone knows what their boss is, what success looks like and how it connects to the mission. Perfection is not a goal, it is a forward movement.
Embrace the shift
Focusing on adaptive builders changed everything. These are people with the range and curiosity to use AI tools to learn quickly and execute with confidence.
If you’re a builder who thrives on ambiguity, this is your time. The AI ​​era rewards curiosity and initiative more than credentials. If you’re hiring, look ahead. The people who will drive your company forward may not have the perfect resume for the job. They are the people who can thrive in what the company thrives on.
The future belongs to generalists and the companies that rely on them.
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