AI isn’t just knocking at the door anymore — it’s remodeling the whole house. From how we work to how industries operate, artificial intelligence is moving fast, shaking things up, and forcing everyone to adapt or fall behind.
At CONVERGE LIVE in Singapore, top leaders from business and tech sat down with CNBC to talk about what this moment really means for us all — and the message is clear: we’re entering the “thinking revolution.”
Joe Tsai, Chairman of Alibaba, laid it out like this: Global GDP sits at about $100 trillion, and labor makes up 60% of that. If just 20% of that labor could be supported or replaced by AI and AI can deliver at 20% less cost that’s a $10 trillion opportunity. A $10 trillion total addressable market. That’s not disruption. That’s transformation on a planetary scale.
It’s why every major player is moving fast. Kamal Bhatia, CEO of Principal Asset Management, says the real action lies in the infrastructure — the rails and engines powering AI. That’s where the real value is being built today, and where profit will flow tomorrow.
But what does this mean for us, the workforce? As Mercer Asia’s Peta Latimer puts it, we’re shifting from a “doing” economy to a “thinking” one. AI is no longer just automating repetitive tasks; it’s challenging leadership, white-collar jobs, and creative problem solving.
Cisco’s Guy Diedrich says it’s time we stop thinking in job titles and start thinking in workflows — because in this new world, adaptability is the most valuable skill.
According to McKinsey’s 2025 report, 70% of employees expect at least 30% of their job to change because of AI in the next two years. And 92% of companies plan to increase AI investment by 2028.
It’s here. It’s now. And it’s only getting bigger.
Are we ready to lead in this new AI-powered era?
