LinkedIn cofounder reveals why US companies are failing to harness AI for real productivity while demand for AI skills soars

LinkedIn AI report: As companies across the US race to adopt artificial intelligence, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman pointed out that many are missing where AI can have the biggest impact on jobs and productivity.

LinkedIn Cofounder Reid Hoffman: Companies May Be Missing Where AI Delivers the Biggest Productivity Gains

While speaking on his “Possible” podcast with AI engineer Parth Patil, Hoffman argued that hiring chief AI officers and launching small pilot teams may look impressive, but real gains come from automating everyday work, as per a report.

Why Chief AI Officers and Pilot Teams Aren’t Enough

He highlighted that AI transformation depends on employees openly learning together, not quietly experimenting on their own. When workers fear judgment for using AI, they become what Wharton professor Ethan Mollick calls “secret cyborgs,” improving personal productivity while the organization learns nothing, Business Insider reported, citing Hoffman's LinkedIn post.


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US Companies Plan to Boost AI Spending in 2026

US companies are investing heavily in AI. Goldman Sachs spent about $6 billion on technology last year, and a December survey by RBC Capital found 90% of CIOs plan to increase AI spending in 2026.

LinkedIn Cofounder Reid Hoffman: Why AI Transformation Starts at the Workflow Level

However, most big companies are currently integrating AI by running pilot schemes with a small, specialist group, as per the Business Insider report. Hoffman pointed out on a LinkedIn post that these companies then expect "transformation to magically spread".

He warned that, "Unfortunately for that strategy, AI lives at the workflow level, and the people closest to the work know where the friction actually is," as quoted by Business Insider.

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LinkedIn Finds Slow Hiring in the US Isn’t Caused by AI

These shifts are happening against a changing global labor market as hiring remains roughly 20% below pre-pandemic levels, and job transitions are at a decade low, as per a new report by LinkedIn.

LinkedIn data shows that economic uncertainty and monetary policy, not AI, are the main reasons for slower hiring. At the same time, demand for AI skills is surging. In the US, jobs requiring AI literacy grew 70% year over year.

Demand for AI Skills is Surging

Karin Kimbrough, LinkedIn’s Chief Economist, said that, “For years, most of the global labor market has been stuck in a low gear with very little momentum. Now we’re seeing AI emerge as a catalyst for new roles, upskilling, and productivity,” as quoted in the LinkedIn report.

AI Engineer Remains the Top Emerging Job in America

New roles are emerging rapidly. AI Engineer remains the top US job for the second year in a row, and companies are increasingly creating Head of AI positions to guide strategy. Over the past two years, more than 1.3 million AI-enabled jobs have appeared globally, many of which blend technical expertise with human skills like problem-solving and adaptability, as per the LinkedIn report.

How Everyday AI Use Could Drive Long-Term Productivity Gains

Hoffman believes companies that start integrating AI into daily coordination tasks, like meetings, note-taking, and knowledge-sharing, will see gains compound over time. He wrote in an X post that, "The winners will be companies that build the muscle of day-to-day use early enough for the gains to compound," adding, "Start learning now, or watch the advantage slip away," as quoted by Business Insider.

LinkedIn Leaders Say AI Is Reshaping the Future of US Jobs

Dan Shapero, LinkedIn’s Chief Operating Officer, said that, "We’re at an inflection point where technological change is driving talent strategy. AI is not the source of a slow hiring market, but it is changing where opportunities and jobs are forming," as quoted in the LinkedIn report.

FAQs

How much are US companies investing in AI?
Some firms, like Goldman Sachs, spent billions on technology last year, with more spending planned.

Is AI the reason hiring is slow in the US?
No. LinkedIn data shows economic uncertainty and monetary policy are the main factors.