tech

In the AI era, be a builder or a seller, not a measurer

AI isn't killing tech jobs, says Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince. It's changing which roles companies value most.

In the AI era, be a builder or a seller, not a measurer

TL;DR

  • Cloudflare increased its engineering workforce by 45% after earlier workforce reductions.
  • AI is changing the structure of companies by altering which job roles are most valued.
  • Companies are now categorized into 'builders' (product creators), 'sellers' (salespeople), and 'measurers' (administrative/tracking roles).
  • AI is making 'builders' more productive and secure, potentially leading to more hiring in this sector.
  • 'Sellers' remain essential due to the human element in customer trust and problem-solving.
  • AI is increasingly handling the functions of 'measurers,' leading to layoffs in roles like middle management, operations, finance, and marketing.
  • The trend shows a move towards investing in core operational work (building the business) over measurement and administrative tasks.