AI Is Becoming a Basic Skill: How Company Requirements Are Changing

Marina Melnick
28 January 2026

Not long ago, the phrase “experience with AI” in job descriptions sounded like a nice bonus. Today, the situation is changing: more and more companies directly expect employees to be able to use AI in everyday tasks – regardless of their position.

This is not about programming or complex algorithms. It is about the practical ability to work with tools that have already become part of daily workflows.

What has changed in the labor market

Companies face a simple reality: the volume of tasks is growing while time is shrinking. That is why they are looking for people who can work faster and more efficiently.

In this case, AI is not a replacement for humans but an amplifier.

More and more employers expect that an employee:

  • uses AI to prepare drafts of ideas or texts;
  • quickly analyzes information;
  • optimizes routine processes;
  • can review and refine the results.

Project managers no longer write reports from scratch – they use AI to structure information and then improve it themselves.
As a result, there is less mechanical work and more time for decision-making.

Who this really affects

Importantly, this is no longer only about IT.

AI is активно entering marketing, business analysis, project management, HR, education, and finance.

HR professionals use AI for:
initial resume screening, preparing interview questions, and summarizing feedback after interviews.

At the same time, the final decision always remains with a human.

What this means for students and beginners

For those just starting their careers, this is even an advantage. AI reduces the gap between beginners and experienced professionals – provided that a person knows how to use it correctly.

Students can:

  • understand new topics faster;
  • prepare for case interviews;
  • learn to think in a structured rather than chaotic way.

But an important point remains: AI does not replace thinking. It only helps those who are already learning how to analyze and ask questions.

What this means for experienced professionals

For professionals, the main challenge is not a lack of knowledge but the habit of working the old way. A specialist with strong experience who ignores new tools, does everything manually, and does not optimize processes will gradually lose to someone who combines experience + AI.

In practice, those who win are the ones who adapt faster, use AI as an assistant, and maintain critical thinking.

Which skills are becoming key

Companies are focusing less on “tool knowledge” and more on work approach:

  • the ability to formulate tasks clearly;
  • understanding of processes;
  • the ability to verify results;
  • skills of analysis and interpretation.

These qualities make a person irreplaceable even in a world of automation.

What to do now

The trend is obvious: the ability to work with AI is becoming a basic skill, just like working with spreadsheets or presentations.

If you are a student, a beginner, or an experienced professional who wants to remain competitive, it is worth starting with practical training: without excessive theory, with real cases and examples from work.

👉 This exact approach is at the core of SkillsUp programs – where AI does not seem complex or abstract but becomes a clear and practical tool for real tasks, truly for you.