On the second day of Knowledge 2025, ServiceNow made waves across the tech world—not just with product announcements, but with a bold prediction about the future of employment. Bill McDermott, Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow, didn’t shy away from a harsh truth: artificial intelligence is not just transforming business—it’s redefining what it means to be employable.
While unveiling major innovations like the Core Business Suite, the acquisition of data catalog company data.world, and a next-generation CRM, McDermott turned attention toward a looming crisis that transcends any single product launch: the growing divide between AI-driven job requirements and the workforce’s readiness to meet them.
AI and the Hiring Crisis: A Growing Gap
“There’s a war for talent—and right now, the biggest shortage is in AI skills,” McDermott said in an interview with Moneycontrol. His warning was clear: you can’t hire what doesn’t exist.
According to McDermott, up to 50% of AI-related roles in the U.S. alone could go unfilled in 2025, while three out of four AI jobs globally may suffer the same fate. This isn’t just an AI problem—it’s a symptom of a broader skills shortfall. The global tech sector is staring down 10 million unfilled skilled roles, many of which hinge on AI fluency, data science, and automation expertise.
AI as a Survival Strategy, Not Just an Opportunity
McDermott didn’t mince words: “Corporations that don’t get on board with AI right now will fail… and if they are around, they won’t be interesting to work for.”
For today’s businesses, AI is no longer a buzzword—it’s a strategic imperative. From customer experience to supply chain management, companies are turning to AI to reduce inefficiencies, accelerate decision-making, and deliver hyper-personalized services. The new Core Business Suite is a prime example, enabling enterprises to scale and automate operations in ways that were impossible just a few years ago.
Yet, all this innovation is meaningless without the talent to support it. The future won’t just favor companies that adopt AI—it will favor workers who understand and can wield it.
Will AI Replace Jobs—or Redefine Them?
The question many employees and job seekers are asking is simple but urgent: Will AI take my job?
The answer, increasingly, is that AI will transform jobs far more than it eliminates them. Roles will shift from repetitive, manual tasks to those that require higher-level thinking, oversight of AI systems, and ethical decision-making. But here’s the catch: this transition won’t be automatic. It demands a conscious upskilling effort—by workers, employers, and educational institutions alike.
What ServiceNow is demonstrating, both through its technology and leadership stance, is that AI is not a threat—it’s a career catalyst. But only for those prepared to meet it head-on.
The Call to Action: Learn AI or Risk Obsolescence
ServiceNow’s investment in next-generation platforms isn’t just about modernizing workflows—it’s about preparing businesses and their people for a future where AI literacy is as fundamental as digital literacy was a decade ago.
As McDermott put it: “AI is the gateway to prosperity.” For individuals, that gateway begins with learning, adapting, and evolving. For businesses, it starts with investing not just in AI tools, but in AI talent development.
The message from Knowledge 2025 is clear: The future of jobs is here—and it’s AI-shaped. The only question is whether we’re ready for it.