According to Business Insider, Goldman Sachs partners Meena Lakdawala-Flynn and Asahi Pompey revealed how AI adoption is changing their hiring criteria at the investment bank. The bank has spent around $6 billion on technology this year and is undergoing an AI-driven overhaul of its One Goldman Sachs platform. Lakdawala-Flynn, who co-heads Global Private Wealth Management, specifically highlighted “strong judgment, strong interpersonal skills, creativity, curiosity, and of course a strong work ethic” as crucial qualities. Pompey, with nearly 20 years at Goldman, emphasized that fundamentals like attention to detail and accuracy remain essential despite AI’s impact. CEO David Solomon has indicated that while AI will lead to “limited” job cuts, the technology means Goldman will need to raise headcount and hire “high-value” employees.
AI Changes Everything and Nothing
Here’s the fascinating thing about Goldman’s perspective: AI is simultaneously transforming everything and changing nothing about what they value in people. On one hand, they’re spending billions on tech and specifically looking for candidates who know how to prompt AI chatbots effectively and question their outputs. But on the other hand? The core human skills that have always mattered in finance – judgment, interpersonal abilities, curiosity – are becoming even more important. It’s like the more we automate the technical stuff, the more we need people who can do what machines can’t.
The Real AI Skill is Human Connection
Lakdawala-Flynn’s perspective is particularly telling. She basically said that using AI tools effectively frees up more time for what really matters: building relationships with clients. “Those interpersonal skills are really important, because the more that you’re able to connect with your client and gain trust, the more that they open up to you,” she explained. Think about that – in wealth management, which you’d think would be all about numbers and algorithms, they’re doubling down on human connection. Her team uses tools like the “GS AI Assistant” and language translators, but the goal is always to enhance, not replace, the human element.
What Happens to Junior Bankers?
Now here’s where it gets interesting for the next generation. Goldman’s chief information officer Marco Argenti called junior employees the bank’s “AI natives.” But what does that actually mean for their career paths? If AI is handling more of the grunt work that junior bankers traditionally cut their teeth on, how do they develop the judgment and experience that the partners are saying matters most? It creates this weird paradox where the technical skills that might get you in the door aren’t necessarily the ones that will help you climb the ladder. The bank seems to be betting that by automating routine tasks, they can fast-track people to the higher-value work that requires human judgment.
business-tech”>The Bigger Picture for Business Tech
Goldman’s approach reflects a broader trend we’re seeing across industries – the most successful AI implementations aren’t about replacing people, but about augmenting human capabilities. When companies invest heavily in industrial computing infrastructure and advanced technology platforms, they’re not looking to eliminate their workforce. They’re trying to elevate it. The focus shifts from who can crunch numbers fastest to who can ask the right questions, build the best relationships, and exercise sound judgment when the AI provides multiple options. It’s a reminder that in an increasingly automated world, the most valuable skills might be the ones that make us most human.
