Amazon Web Services CEO reveals ‘most important skill’ to succeed in AI age: 'Told my own teen...'

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman said he advised his own teenage child to focus on developing critical thinking in college, regardless of the major. (Image credit: AFP)

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman has said that the most valuable skill in the age of artificial intelligence isn’t coding or machine learning—it’s critical thinking. In interviews with CNBC and TIME, Garman emphasised that as AI tools become more embedded in workplaces, employers will increasingly prioritise soft skills like creativity, adaptability, and communication.

“It’s less about the development of skills and it really is [about] how do you become a critical thinker?” Garman told CNBC. “In some ways, I think that’s actually going to be the most important skill going forward”.

He advised his own teenage child to focus on developing critical thinking in college, regardless of the major. “I think part of going to college is building [your] critical thinking,” Garman said. “It’s less about the development of skills and it really is [about] how do you become a critical thinker? In some ways, I think that’s actually going to be the most important skill going forward."

Garman also stressed the importance of communication and adaptability. “These people skills are going to continue to be super important for a long time,” he said. “Most customers still want to talk to a person and get personal insights and attention from a human being.”

He also stressed the need to be creative. "You’re going to want to be [good at] critical thinking. And you’re going to want to be flexible. I think the ability to learn new things and adapt is going to be just as important as any particular skill that you learn," the AWS head told the publication.