In a recent YouTube video, Ryan, co‑founder of Interview Kickstart, addressed a common belief about big tech layoffs. He pointed out that people often think companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft are constantly cutting jobs. But as he explained, the story is more nuanced.
“Top companies are not really downsizing,” Ryan says. “They’re reorganizing. And you guessed it, they’re reorganizing around AI.”
This shift reflects a bigger change in the industry. AI skills are now central to hiring and long-term career growth in the tech industry. Companies aren’t simply shrinking their teams; they’re reshaping them to focus on AI and automation.
With over 20,000 alumni and more than 700 instructors from top tech companies, Interview Kickstart has a front‑row seat to how this transformation is playing out across the industry.
Key Takeaways
- Top companies are reorganizing around AI, not simply downsizing.
- Top AI skills in demand: generative AI, agentic AI, and deep ML.
- Building AIQ boosts compensation and career trajectory without sacrificing seniority.
- Start with LLMs and AI tools, then level up to transformational skills for the biggest career impact.
Why AI Skills Are in Demand
Ryan points out that big tech firms are perfectly positioned to dominate AI because they have the 4Ds:
- Data – massive datasets to train advanced models
- Distribution – user bases in the billions
- Data Centers – infrastructure for large-scale AI computation
- Dough – the capital to invest heavily in AI
With these advantages, companies are “aggressively reorganizing around AI talent.”
Even traditional roles, such as software engineers, TPMs, PMs, and cloud engineers, now come with an AI-preferred tag. As Ryan explains:
“If you look at LinkedIn, you’ll realize that one in four or one in three jobs today are AI‑led jobs. Much more importantly, even traditional jobs… are very often now coming out saying AI preferred.”
To thrive in this new market, Ryan urges professionals to build what he calls AIQ—their AI intelligence.
What AI Skills Are in Demand?
Ryan breaks down five core areas for developing AI skills:
- LLMs (Large Language Models) – Learn to leverage models like ChatGPT to improve day-to-day productivity.
- AI-Driven Coding Tools – Master tools that accelerate coding and problem-solving.
- Generative AI Applications – Build apps that create text, images, and more.
- Agentic AI – Learn the emerging field of autonomous AI agents.
- Deep Machine Learning (Deep ML) – Develop advanced AI models and pipelines.
As Ryan explains:
“The first two—i.e. learning how to use LLMs and learning AI tools are things that you can do on your own time. They’re not very complicated and they can be done fairly quickly.”
But he emphasizes that the transformational skills, the ones that “bring in the moola”, are generative AI, agentic AI, and deep ML.
Also Read: How to AI Proof Your Career in 2025
Career and Salary Impact
Ryan emphasizes that learning AI skills can be a career‑changing move, both in terms of growth and salary. He notes that professionals with AI expertise can often see their compensation rise by 50% sometimes reaching an additional $300,000 for the same role.
As he puts it,
“We’ve seen that level‑for‑level, people who have AI capabilities can often have an increase in compensation of anywhere between 50% going all the way to $300,000, for the same level.”
Top‑tier AI experts are seeing offers that push the limits of the industry, with some high‑profile talent receiving deals worth hundreds of millions. And for professionals worried about moving into an AI‑led role, Ryan reassures them that it doesn’t require taking a step backward. “If I were to move into an AI‑led role, will I need to move two or three levels down in my career? The answer is no.”
Demand for AI talent is so strong that lateral moves, or even promotions with significant pay increases, are now realistic for those with the right skills.
How to Build Your AIQ
Ryan’s suggested roadmap for building AI skills:
- Start with LLMs and AI Tools – Quick wins to improve productivity.
- Advance to Generative and Agentic AI – Create applications and autonomous agents.
- Go Deep with ML – Learn advanced ML to secure top-paying, high-impact roles.
Conclusion
The AI revolution is moving fast, and top companies are reorganizing to capture its potential. They are seeking professionals who not only understand AI but can apply it to solve real-world problems. Developing your AI skills is no longer optional if you want to grow your career and secure high-paying, future-proof roles.
Are you Skills AI Ready?
To help you assess where you stand, Interview Kickstart offers a powerful tool: the AI Quotient Analyzer. This FAANG-powered platform evaluates your resume against the AI skills that today’s top roles demand and gives you actionable insights.
First, you’ll receive your AI-Readiness Score, which shows how well your current resume aligns with AI-enabled opportunities. Then, you get a detailed skill gap analysis, identifying the AI skills you need to add.
You’ll also discover your salary potential with AI skills, helping you understand the financial upside of leveling up. Finally, the tool provides a personalized AI career roadmap, a step-by-step plan to land a high-paying, AI-focused role.
Plenty of resume checkers exist, but none are tailored to highlight AI readiness and the exact skill gaps that unlock FAANG+ opportunities.
If you’re serious about future-proofing your career, start now. Run AI Quotient Analyzer and get your score, insights, and roadmap in just a minute.
