The article argues that a new cohort of workers — dubbed the “AI-native” generation — is emerging, having grown up with AI tools embedded in their education and digital habits. In the UK, government-led initiatives like the £187 million TechFirst programme are aimed at creating a pipeline of AI-fluent graduates, with AI learning spanning from early schooling through postgraduate education.
For businesses, this shift signals that the workforce is changing: upcoming hires may be more fluent with AI than the organisation’s existing leadership. The article emphasizes that companies must adapt in five key ways — hiring strategies, onboarding processes, goal-setting, software/environment readiness and networking — to prevent the arrival of AI-native talent from becoming a disruptive shock rather than an advantage.
Moreover, the real differentiator in this era isn’t just tool-use, but continuous learning and cultural alignment. The author warns that many organisations are already stumbling because of internal skills gaps: roughly two-thirds of companies surveyed had to abandon AI projects due to lack of readiness.
In conclusion, the article makes clear that the question isn’t whether the AI-native generation will reshape the workplace — it’s whether organisations will guide that transformation intentionally or be buffeted by it. Getting ready means aligning culture, infrastructure and leadership mindset now, rather than playing catch-up later.
