IBM talent exec says it's better to be a specialist, not a generalist, in the AI era

Aparna Nair said that "the world of generalists is long gone." : Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images "The world of generalists is long gone," said IBM's chief talent, leadership, and culture officer.

Aparna Nair said IBM's clients aren't expecting general advice; they're looking for deep expertise.

She said even if workers wear many hats, they still need extensive knowledge about their specialty.

It's a hotly debated question: Is it better to be an expert or a generalist in the AI era? For Aparna Nair, IBM's chief talent, leadership, and culture officer, there's no debate.

She said she doesn't think generalists alone "will cut it" in the workforce in the AI era.

"The world of generalists is long gone," Nair said.

Aparna Nair is IBM's chief talent, leadership, and culture officer.

IBM Nair said that generalists may be able to rely on AI to learn a lot, but at IBM, for example, the company's clients aren't expecting general advice from its workforce.

IBM is hired for its deep technological expertise, she said.

Nair said the same is true for entry-level hires.

IBM, which has committed to doubling down on junior talent , expects new workers to arrive with the skills — and domain expertise — to take on more complex work earlier in their careers, Nair said.

She said workers should identify an area that aligns with their employer's needs, become an expert in it, and "go deep." That expectation remains even as engineering roles are starting to blur with AI.

In the past, a software engineer might have spent 20% of their time coding and another 20% testing, Nair said.

Now, AI can handle much of the coding work , and engineers need the critical-thinking and judgment skills to evaluate what the technology produces, Nair said.