Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora has a blunt warning for workers: AI is creating a "Darwinian moment" in the workplace, and those who do not adapt may be left behind.
Arora, who leads the $278 billion cybersecurity firm, says that 90% of employees at large companies are not AI-savvy. He believes this lack of skills could determine the fate of their careers in the new world of work.
What the CEO said about AI and jobs
Speaking on the 20VC podcast, Arora described the situation as a survival test for workers. "I think we're back to a Darwinian moment where everybody has to figure out who's really good," he said, according to Fortune.
Arora made it clear that traditional education is not the answer. "[Workers] have to learn. I can't send them to university; there's no course you can take in any school anywhere," he added. "They have to be able to learn on their own."
What this means for workers
The CEO's message is direct: AI is automating routine tasks and redefining entire roles. Workers who do not develop AI skills may find themselves struggling to keep up. Arora is already seeing the fallout at his own company and across the industry.
According to Fortune, Arora warns that the tools are creating a new workplace survival test—one where workers must evolve or risk being left in the dust.
Our Take: The responsibility is on workers
Arora's warning is not just corporate talk—it reflects a real shift in how companies view talent. In our view, the message is uncomfortable but honest. Companies are not going to wait for workers to catch up. The CEO is telling employees that the burden of learning falls on them, not on their employers or schools.
This is a significant change from the past, where companies often provided training for new technologies. Now, with AI evolving so fast, the expectation is that workers must take initiative. For anyone in a corporate job, this should be a wake-up call. The "Darwinian moment" Arora describes is already here, and the choice is simple: evolve or get cut.
