'Specialists aren't required' anymore: How to stay valuable in an AI agent workplace today

Innovation 'Specialists aren't required' anymore: How to stay valuable in an AI agent workplace today Written , Senior ContributorSenior Contributor Aug. 12, 2026 at p. m. PT filadendron/ E+ via Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways Polymaths will be in high demand in the age of AI. These adaptable professionals will embrace agents. They will ally AI skills with deep subject expertise.  Experts recognize that agentic AI is changing the workplace. From the deployment of intelligent assistants to the rise of autonomous businesses, agents are expected to fulfill a range of activities traditionally carried out by professionals. While there's agreement that agents will have a significant impact on operations, there's less consensus on the role humans will play in the agentic-enabled workplace of the future. However, what's already clear is that the future of work will require a careful blend of human expertise and AI capabilities, with professionals working effectively and productively alongside their agentic counterparts. Also: The new enterprise AI expert every company needs - and why For Gerrit Kazmaier, president of product and technology at Workday, finding the right balance between human and AI agency presents new opportunities. He said earlier this year that agentic AI amplifies workers' strengths, allowing them to function as polymaths. Experts suggest the term polymath has its roots in Ancient Greek and describes someone who excels in multiple fields. In the age of agentic AI, as suggested a recent blog post, the rise of the polymath is associated with a shift in labor demand away from specialists who know everything about a single domain to professionals with knowledge across multiple disciplines. Also: How Workday and other software providers plan to survive AI Kathy Pham, vice president of AI at Workday, also acknowledged the rise of the polymath and told ZDNET that professionals who can work with agents across multiple areas simultaneously will be crucial. "These are the gaps that we need to fill, and maybe we can then redirect our energy to higher-value areas, because we've now automated the less valuable parts of our working lives that took our time," she said. So, what will a successful polymath look like? Business leaders told us that two core characteristics will be crucial: adaptability to AI-enabled change and the confidence to make valuable decisions that agents can't. Also: The 3 types of people who will excel in the AI agent era, according to tech leaders Kairinos used the analogy of a musical instrument to explain skills development in the AI era.