OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reveals his ‘obvious tactical’ career advice for Gen Z grads—as Apple, Amazon, and Meta hunt for workers with this skill

“The obvious tactical thing is just get really good at using AI tools,” Altman said to Stratechery’s Ben Thompson.

“Like when I was graduating as a senior from high school, the obvious tactical thing was get really good at coding, and this is the new version of that.”

Although Altman’s revelation seems more apt for the next generation of wannabe tech CEOs, it was his response to a question about career advice for general Gen Zers graduating from high school this year.

Plus, it’s something students can learn without pouring years of their time and thousands of dollars into a college degree. Even just a months-long skills training program, like the one endorsed by Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, can be a major stepping stone in learning AI skills. Moreover, activities as simple as listening to podcasts or getting your hands dirty with tools like Google’s NotebookLM can also be a way to get way ahead in the AI skills game, according to Mark Cuban.

AI is what coding was to millennials

For years, coding has been hounded as one of the top hard skills all students should master, especially if want a high-paying career in tech. However, AI has radically changed the game in just a short period of time and rapidly replaced the tasks of some coders. 

Earlier this month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted a grim reality for software developers and said in just three to six months, AI will be writing 90% of the code produced. According to Altman, AI is already performing 50% of coding tasks at many companies.  The real transformation, he said, will be a democratization of “agentic coding”—an AI agent that will automate repetitive coding tasks and completely enhance the productivity of software engineers in the short term. 

And at some point, the world may need fewer software engineers, Altman admitted.

“(AI) just seeps through the economy and mostly eats things little by little and then faster and faster,” he said. 

But not all is lost. Careers in technology are still feasible, as long as the proper skills are obtained, and the proof is in the job postings.

Fortune has reached out to Altman for comment.

AI literacy is the No. 1 skill employers want to see on a resume—but soft skills are right behind

According to LinkedIn’s analysis of the fastest-growing skills for 2025, AI literacy takes home the top prize—and it’s not surprising considering that companies are desperate for workers with AI skills.

“Companies are increasingly looking for professionals with the ability to understand and utilize tools harnessing that technology for business purpose,” the job platform wrote. 

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For those with AI skills, companies are willing to dish out up to seven-figure salaries for the crème de la crème. Apple, Amazon, and Meta are among those on the hunt for AI scientists in particular, a career path that can bring home more money than arduous jobs like a cardiologist.

But landing one of these positions is no easy feat. LinkedIn’s Editor-in-Chief, Dan Roth, said on Today that the overall hiring rate is down 3.4%, but the number of average applicants is up. 

“Companies are hiring less. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not great out there,” Roth said.

Learning about AI isn’t the only way to future proof your career; soft skills can be just as critical. Chris Hyams, the CEO of Indeed, told Fortune, hiring managers should prioritize looking for applicants with, “curiosity and an openness.”

Altman agreed. It can be just as important to learn how to learn—and develop soft skills that will last throughout your entire career, he said. He singled out cultivating resilience and adaptability as two examples: “whatever specific thing you’re going to learn—learn these general skills that seem like they’re going to be important as the world goes through this transition.”