# White collar jobs are being destroyed by AI... but one expert tells us about the 'human skills' that help you beat the machines > Source: > Published: 2026-07-09 20:10:26+00:00 # White collar jobs are being destroyed by AI... but one expert tells us about the 'human skills' that help you beat the machines **READ MORE:**[Sleepy coastal state fights Big Tech with first-of-its-kind ban](/real-estate/article-15732493/maine-data-center-ban.html)**See more Daily Mail on Google -**[save us as a Preferred Source](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=dailymail.com) As artificial intelligence reshapes white-collar work and fuels growing fears of layoffs, one expert says workers who lean into uniquely human skills will have the greatest advantage in the years ahead. Entry-level jobs heavily reliant on mathematics, data analysis and supply chain work are particularly vulnerable because AI can complete those tasks faster and more efficiently than humans - a trend that's unlikely to reverse. Jeff DeGraff, professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, who studies innovation and the future of work, told the Daily Mail that while AI is rapidly hollowing out some traditional entry-level corporate roles, it cannot replace higher-order thinking skills such as judgment, creativity, adaptability and 'sense-making.' 'I think there's kind of three levels to AI, and the first level is just efficiency and effectiveness, and those are typically entry-level jobs - that's the first step in the staircase for young people,' DeGraff warned. 'So young people have really taken the biggest hit around the concept of how are we going to sort of move up the ladder here with our skills.' This shift is already being reflected in how both individuals and corporations use AI. A 2025 YouGov poll found 58 percent of American AI users rely on it for fact-finding or quick answers, while companies are rapidly embedding the technology into core workflows. Cloudflare recently cut 1,100 jobs as it ramped up its use of AI. An internal memo obtained by Business Insider said employee use of AI surged more than 600 percent in three months, with staff running thousands of AI agent sessions each day. Jeff DeGraff, professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, told the Daily Mail that workers who lean into uniquely human skills will have the greatest advantage over their competitors in landing a job DeGraff told the Daily Mail that higher-level skills like adaptability, judgement and creativity cannot be replaced by AI Much of the work that once served as a traditional entry point into white-collar careers is increasingly being absorbed by AI systems. DeGraff argues the response is not to attempt to compete with AI on speed or volume, but to develop skills that complement it. As workers face growing volumes of AI-generated information, he believes the real advantage lies in evaluating competing answers, identifying what matters and making sound decisions. 'We're entering an age where answers are cheap, but judgment is priceless,' DeGraff said. He described a future where a consulting report that once took six weeks and cost $600,000 can now be generated in six hours - leaving workers with multiple competing versions instead of one clear conclusion. 'An adaptive mindset is going to be required to work through the complexity,' DeGraff said. 'If you think there's an answer, good luck - there are five more.' He calls this process 'sense-making' - taking messy, conflicting streams of information and turning them into meaningful decisions. Rather than handing over authority to AI, he said humans will remain responsible for asking the right questions, weighing trade-offs and deciding what should be done with the information. Creativity is another area where DeGraff believes humans retain a clear edge. While AI excels at optimization, project management and improving existing systems, he said it still struggles to produce genuine breakthroughs or entirely new ideas. Cloudflare unleashed a brutal worldwide jobs massacre - slashing more than 1,100 workers as the San Francisco tech titan races to reinvent itself for the age of artificial intelligence In a stark internal memo, co-founders Matthew Prince and Michelle Zatlyn warned staff that AI had completely transformed how the company operates Leadership also remains one of the most enduring workplace skills. While AI can automate tasks, businesses still need people who can set priorities, navigate uncertainty and guide organizations through difficult decisions. 'Leadership is priceless and eternal,' DeGraff said. Despite the University of Michigan being at the forefront of preparing students for the future of work, DeGraff believes universities are still at least a decade behind the pace of AI. But he argues the disruption could ultimately become a 'renaissance' for young people. Automation would strip away routine work while elevating the importance of human imagination, judgment and meaning. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, DeGraff likened it to 'George Martin for the Beatles' - a creative partner that gives people greater freedom to innovate. The collaboration could allow small teams or even individuals to build companies that once required thousands of employees. 'You're starting to see billion-dollar companies that are one or two people,' DeGraff said. By combining the three skills outlined by DeGraff, workers are more likely to snag the job and not lose it later to AI 'Leadership is priceless and eternal,' DeGraff said. While the University of Michigan is at the forefront of innovating skills to prepare students for the AI workforce, DeGraff still feels that most universities are at least a decade behind. But if skills like leadership, 'sense-making' and creativity are placed at the center of educational priorities, he believes there could be a 'renaissance' for young people. Automation could strip away routine work while making human imagination, judgment and creativity more valuable than ever. Instead of treating AI as a threat, it should be seen more like 'George Martin for the Beatles,' DeGraff said - a collaborative partner that gives people more freedom to create and innovate. That shift could allow small teams, or even individuals, to build businesses that once required hundreds of employees. 'You're starting to see billion-dollar companies that are one or two people,' DeGraff said. Small businesses already appear to be embracing that future. The [US Chamber of Commerce](https://www.uschamber.com/technology/empowering-small-business-the-impact-of-technology-on-u-s-small-business) found that 58 percent of small businesses were using generative AI, while 82 percent expanded their workforce between 2024 and 2025. 'You're starting to see billion-dollar companies that are one or two people,' DeGraff said. 77 percent of small businesses said restrictions on AI would negatively affect their growth The trend is already emerging among small businesses. The US Chamber of Commerce found 58 percent of small businesses now use generative AI, and 82 percent of those companies increased their workforce between 2024 and 2025. Another 77 percent said restrictions on AI would hurt their growth, operations and bottom line, while most reported growing optimism about their business outlook. Despite AI disrupting traditional career ladders, DeGraff said young people are increasingly moving away from conventional corporate structures. Instead, they are forming what he calls 'federations of meaning' - flexible networks built around shared interests rather than rigid organizational hierarchies. 'I think you're actually leading where you feel like you're locked out and you're behind,' he said. 'You're not, you're in front.'