At CES 2026, industry leaders emphasized that AI is transforming technology, investment, and the workforce at an unprecedented pace. In a live All-In podcast taping, Bob Sternfels, Global Managing Partner at McKinsey & Company, and Hemant Taneja, CEO of General Catalyst, discussed how AI is driving rapid company valuations and reshaping labor strategies.
Taneja noted that while traditional firms like Stripe took over a decade to reach a $100 billion valuation, AI-focused companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI have seen valuations soar to hundreds of billions in under two years, signaling the emergence of potential trillion-dollar enterprises.
Sternfels highlighted tension between CFOs, who question immediate ROI, and CIOs, who fear disruption, as organizations consider full AI adoption. Both speakers stressed that while AI can automate many tasks, human creativity, judgment, and adaptability remain critical. Taneja encouraged lifelong “skilling and re-skilling,” describing traditional career models as outdated, while Sternfels noted McKinsey plans to deploy personalized AI agents for every employee by 2026, increasing client-facing roles and reducing back-office staff.
The discussion underscored that success in the AI era will require drive, creativity, and adaptability, as businesses and employees navigate rapid technological and economic shifts.
