5 essential AI skills that will help you stay relevant in the age of automation: ServiceNow’s Amit Zavery explains

Amit Zavery

As AI redefines how work is done across industries, the question on every professional’s mind is: how can one stay relevant? According to Amit Zavery, President, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at ServiceNow, the answer lies in cultivating a blend of technical and cognitive skills that align with the future of intelligent workflows.

Zavery, who is leading ServiceNow’s product and platform globally, believes AI will not just automate tasks but will redefine job roles. “AI won’t replace humans. It will replace tasks. So, people who can work alongside AI will be in demand,” he says.

1. Data literacy will be fundamental

The first skill, Zavery stresses, is data literacy. “Anyone entering the workforce must be able to understand, interpret, and work with data,” he says. This doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a data scientist, but being comfortable with data trends, visualization, and outcomes will be critical in almost every role.

2. Understanding large language models (LLMs)

Zavery believes the widespread adoption of LLMs like GPT will require people to understand not just how to use them, but also their limitations. “Prompt engineering is just the beginning. Knowing how to guide and refine AI responses will make you more productive and accurate,” he explains.

3. Design thinking and problem-solving

As automation handles repetitive tasks, humans will be valued for judgment and creativity. “Jobs of the future will need people who can define the problem first,” says Zavery. Design thinking, with its emphasis on user needs and iterative solutions, will become a must-have framework across roles.

4. AI ethics and responsible innovation

As enterprises scale AI use, there’s growing demand for professionals who understand bias, fairness, and governance. “Building responsible AI is not just a technical problem, it’s a societal one,” says Zavery. Workers who can embed ethical thinking into product development or operations will be highly sought after.

5. AI-human collaboration skills

Finally, Zavery points to a soft skill that will define the AI era: collaboration. “We need people who can work with both humans and machines. That includes translating business problems into machine-executable formats, or communicating AI-driven insights effectively to stakeholders.”

Zavery notes that companies like ServiceNow are already building tools that allow employees to work more intuitively with AI. “It’s not about having a PhD in AI. It’s about being curious, adaptable, and willing to learn.”

As automation accelerates, those who invest in these five skills will not only remain employable—they’ll be essential.