Yoshua Bengio advises focusing on humanity, encouraging the next generation to build character, kindness, and responsibility rather than competing with machines.
AI may replace many jobs, but human traits like empathy, emotional strength, and care will become even more valuable in an automated future.
Other AI leaders echo similar views, with Geoffrey Hinton highlighting the longevity of physical skills and Yann LeCun stressing strong foundations in maths and physics.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing on a daily basis, and whether it is in content creation, designing, or even thinking, these tools are becoming more and more efficient. As a result, worries about jobs and careers are growing across the world, including in India. The fear is not only among corporate professionals; even students and parents are concerned. Many of them ask what skills will matter in the future and how children today should prepare for a changing world. Amid all this chaos, research scientist Yoshua Bengio, often referred to as the godfather of AI, recently shared the advice he would give his four-year-old grandson.
SurveyInstead of talking about software, machines, or job titles, he spoke about character, kindness, and human connection. His message was clear and reassuring: even in a future shaped by AI, being a good human being will remain deeply important.
Career advice by Yoshua Bengio
Research scientist Yoshua Bengio, while speaking on an episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast hosted by Steven Bartlett, said:
“Work on the beautiful human being that you can become. I think that that part of ourselves will persist even if machines can do most of the jobs.”
The one-hour-and-forty-minute episode, which aired on December 18, discussed what advice he would give his four-year-old grandson. He added that the focus should not be on competing with machines. Instead, he said that young minds should work on becoming “beautiful human beings”. By this, he meant developing qualities like care for others, emotional strength, honesty, and a sense of responsibility. Bengio believes these traits will always remain valuable, regardless of how advanced technology becomes.
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Bengio went further to explain that many computer-related jobs currently done by humans may be handled by AI systems in the near future. Moreover, office work, paperwork, and other keyboard-based tasks could also be automated. Physical jobs may one day be taken over by robots as well, although this is likely to happen much later.
However, he made it clear that this does not mean humans will become unimportant. According to him, as machines handle more routine work, human qualities will stand out even more. Caring professions, personal services, and emotional support are areas where people will always play a central role.
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Why human touch cannot be replaced
Bengio also supported his advice with a simple example. He said, ‘If I’m in a hospital, I want a human being to hold my hand while I’m anxious or in pain. The human touch is going to, I think, take more and more value, as the other skills become more and more automated.’ This clearly shows that, while a machine can assist in treatment, it cannot replace the comfort, empathy, and trust derived only from human presence.
Moreover, he feels that with the further growth of technology, society will increasingly recognise and value compassion and emotional connect, as these qualities cannot be copied by machines but arise only from deepest care.
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What other AI leaders are saying
This isn’t the first time someone has said this, as other AI leaders like Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun have also given advice on how to prepare for the future. Hinton has said, ‘Skilled physical work may remain relevant for many years,’ while LeCun has encouraged students to ‘build strong foundations in subjects like maths and physics.’
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Bhaskar Sharma
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers. View Full Profile
