Why some employers are paying extra for ‘human’ skills

September 9, 2026 — 3:57pm

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Ever since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 kicked off the AI boom, the message to workers has been a menacing one: adapt or die.

In 2026, this is hardly an idle threat. Its most recent variation came in a Financial Times report this week which revealed that Swiss investment bank UBS was demanding prospective junior staff demonstrate AI proficiency in order to land a lucrative job.

There is a sense of inevitability to the way companies across white-collar sectors – consulting, finance, tech and the like – have made AI adoption a key metric for professional success. Last year, KPMG started evaluating staff AI use in its annual performance review (although perhaps it should have focused on bread and butter matters like “don’t misuse confidential client information”). Meta’s decision to start tracking its employees’ AI use led to widespread internal anger.

Those who resist acquiring fuzzily defined........

© Brisbane Times