Succeeding in the age of AI: the guide to adapt to the changing world of work

Artificial intelligence is no longer a prospective subject: it is becoming an everyday reality for millions of professionals. According to an exclusive LinkedIn study (September 2025), more than a third of French employees say they feel overwhelmed by the speed at which they have to train. However, one employee out of two already considers that AI will be a productivity driver.

This double feeling — concern and optimism — perfectly illustrates the profound changes in the world of work. How can we adapt to this new situation? Which sectors are going to change the fastest? And what skills will become essential?

AI, a driver of growth and jobs

Economic data confirm the extent of the phenomenon. According to PWC, the sectors most exposed to AI — finance, software publishing, digital services — saw their productivity triple between 2018 and 2024. On the other hand, more traditional sectors such as hotels and restaurants have stagnated.

The labour market reflects this dynamic: 166,000 AI-related offers were published in France in 2024. Professionals mastering AI receive an average of one 56% higher salary to their peers. For businesses as well as for individuals, AI competence is therefore becoming a decisive competitive advantage.

Jobs that have already been transformed by artificial intelligence

Some functions are already undergoing a radical change.

• Communication and marketing : AI now generates texts, visuals, translations or entire campaigns in a few seconds. Where content production required several months, a trained team can deliver the same volume in a few days.
• Visual creation : graphic designers, directors, photographers integrate generative tools to accelerate their projects. Hybrid productions — combining human creativity and AI — are becoming the norm, even if major brands that have tested 100% AI campaigns have generated debate and criticism.
• Juridical : the search for case law, a time-consuming task for juniors, is now automated, freeing up time for strategic analysis.
• Software development : documentation, correction and code generation are accelerated thanks to solutions like GitHub Copilot, Claude or Cursor. These tools do not replace the developer, but increase the speed of execution.

Conversely, professions where physical presence is essential (medicine, real estate, crafts) evolve more slowly. However, even a plumber is concerned: quotes, invoices or customer management can be automated.

A climate combining pressure and optimism

While the benefits are tangible, the LinkedIn study reveals tensions:

• 37% of employees say they are overwhelmed through the pace of learning.
• 34% recognize a lack of understanding on the subject.
• A significant portion prefers not to discuss AI at work, for fear of being perceived as incompetent.

La Generation Z is the most vulnerable. Twice as likely as her elders to overestimate her skills, she sometimes lacks the professional perspective to assess the reliability of the responses generated by AI. Conversely, 40-50 year olds, having gone through other technological revolutions, are more confident.

However, positive signals dominate: 51% of employees believe that AI will allow them to automate their repetitive tasks, and 38% are already seeing productivity gains.

The key skills to succeed with AI

The skill that is growing the fastest on LinkedIn is clear: Mastering artificial intelligence, with 100% growth in one year. But be careful: the challenge is not limited to using ChatGPT.

Experts recommend:

1. Define your needs and avoid dispersing: it is better to go deeper into two or three relevant tools than to chase after each novelty.
2. Develop your soft skills : critical thinking, adaptability, creativity and emotional intelligence will remain the decisive assets in an automated environment.
3. Valuing your AI achievements on his resume or LinkedIn: these skills have become a marker of employability.

Training programs are multiplying. For example, LinkedIn Learning offers courses adapted to different levels, ranging from initiation (“Boosting your daily life with AI”) to specialization (“Building AI agents”).

Strategies for adapting to the AI era

For professionals, the best approach is based on four pillars:

1. Continuously learning : regularly integrate AI into its activities, through concrete projects or micro-training courses.
2. Experiment without fear : start with simple tasks before generalizing use.
3. Position yourself as an AI referent : to become an ambassador within your team or department.
4. Strengthening the human : cultivate creativity, decision-making, management and critical analysis, where AI cannot be a substitute.

Conclusion: a new balance to be found

AI is already redrawing the contours of work. The professionals who succeed will be those who are able to combine The power of technological tools and human intelligence. As Cécile Dejoux, professor at Cnam, summarizes: “Tomorrow's work will be to identify what AI cannot automate: creativity, style, uniqueness. In short, what makes each of us a talent.”

Adopting AI is not an option, it is a condition for competitiveness and employability. But far from replacing humans, it opens a new chapter where value lies in the ability to take advantage of technology while maintaining what makes us unique.