In the current wave of rapid technological development, hospitals, top-tier law firms, and major technology giants are gradually discerning the future landscape of AI reshaping the workplace: AI's core role lies in automating specific, tedious tasks, not simply eliminating positions. This profound insight is the core point recently emphasized by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in the renowned podcast "No Priors," attracting significant attention from professional organizations, including Henderson Executive.

The Battle Between Tasks and Jobs: Observations from a Tech Recruitment Agency

In that comprehensive interview, Huang pointed out that public anxiety about "ecological-level unemployment caused by AI" often stems from confusing "specific tasks" with the macro "core value" of a job. As a technology recruitment agency long focused on technical talent flow, we observe similar trends: Artificial Intelligence changes the path of task completion, but the core value of the position—human judgment and creativity—remains unchanged. This means technological progress might not lead to layoffs but could instead increase market demand for professional talents capable of being responsible for final outcomes due to efficiency gains.

Huang's interpretation is direct and sharp: most jobs are filled with repetitive tasks that can be simplified by technology, but the soul of the job is always human-led. To prove this, he used radiology as an example, a case that deeply resonates with even Shanghai AI executive search firms.

The Revelation of Radiology: From "Eliminated" to "High Demand"

Years ago, AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton boldly predicted that AI would eliminate a vast number of radiology jobs and advised medical students to avoid the field. However, reality went in the exact opposite direction. Despite AI achieving high automation in image reading tasks, the number of radiologists today far exceeds Hinton's prediction from 2016.

According to 2025 industry blog data compiled by a Guangzhou technology headhunting firm, the demand for radiologists remains high. In 2025, US diagnostic radiology residency programs offered a record-breaking 1,208 positions, a 4% increase over the previous year, with vacancy rates hitting a historical peak. Furthermore, in 2025, radiology became the second-highest-paying medical specialty in the US, with an average annual salary reaching $520,000. This data surprised even many AI startup recruitment agencies—as this represents a salary growth of over 48% compared to 2015, the year before Hinton made his prediction.

How did this shift happen? A senior analyst from a Shenzhen AI headhunter believes that, as Huang noted, the core of a radiologist's work is not "reading scans"—a task that has been automated. The true value lies in diagnosing diseases, guiding treatment, and supporting clinical work through research. When AI assists clinicians in analyzing images more precisely and efficiently, hospitals can serve more patients and generate higher revenue, providing a strong rationale for hiring more specialists.

From Code to Law: The New Hiring Logic of Internet Giants

Huang states that this logic of "task automation driving job demand" applies to the entire economy, a phenomenon currently observed by Shenzhen internet giant headhunters and Guangzhou internet giant recruitment agencies on the hiring side.

"I spend most of my day typing," Huang admitted. But he emphasized that typing is merely a task, not the core value of his work. Automated writing tools will not make executive roles disappear; on the contrary, such tools often expand the workload capacity that managers and employees can handle.

"If someone could use AI to automatically complete a massive amount of typing for me, I would be very grateful; it would help me immensely," he said. "But this won't make me idle. Quite the opposite, I will be busier because I can handle more work."

This "task vs. core value" analytical framework is becoming increasingly evident in the knowledge work sector—AI tools are accelerating the automation of tasks such as drafting, summarizing, and code generation.

Using software engineering as an example, Huang pointed out that AI can reduce the time spent on the core task of writing code, while simultaneously increasing the demand for the job's core value: solving problems and discovering new challenges worth conquering. Although AI programming tools like Cursor have become common within Nvidia's engineering teams, the company is still hiring aggressively through AGI executive search firms. The reason is that productivity gains allow enterprises to advance more innovative concepts, driving revenue growth and providing ample funds for recruiting new staff. Even organizations focused on frontier tech, like ByteDance recruitment partners, are seeking engineers who can utilize AI tools to discover new problems rather than just moving code.

The legal industry is another example he cited. A Guangzhou AI headhunter noted in their work that reading and drafting contracts are just specific tasks; a lawyer's core value lies in protecting client rights and resolving disputes. While AI can accelerate such document-intensive work, the true value of the position depends on the practitioner's judgment, strategic ability, and accountability—qualities that rely on experienced and trustworthy human lawyers.

Resonance in the Service Industry and Emerging Markets

This logic even applies to restaurant waiters. Huang stated that a waiter's task is to record order information, but the position's core value is to ensure customers have a pleasant dining experience.

"Even if AI takes over ordering or even food delivery, the waiter's duty remains to help us have a good consumer experience," the CEO added. "They will readjust their work content accordingly."

Huang's view does not imply that AI will not impact existing jobs; in fact, impact is inevitable. However, he emphasizes that existing facts show AI is bringing about a redesign of job functions rather than mass unemployment.

This workplace restructuring is not limited to first-tier cities. With the advancement of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Haikou internet technology headhunters and Sanya internet technology recruitment agencies have observed similar trends: companies are no longer just looking for executors, but for personnel who can leverage technology to enhance experiences. Whether it is a Sanya AI headhunter or a Haikou AI recruitment firm, when scouting talent for local enterprises, they increasingly value candidates' ability to grasp "core value."

Embracing Change to Reshape Core Competitiveness

For professionals, this perspective holds significant practical meaning. From the view of Shenzhen internet technology headhunters and Guangzhou internet technology recruitment agencies, if your work value is only reflected in repetitive tasks, AI is indeed a direct threat. However, if the core of your work is pursuing final results—such as disease diagnosis, customer experience optimization, problem-solving, or conflict mediation—then AI is more likely to be your ally. As Henderson Executive advocates, it will change your daily work content, but the core value of the position will always remain. Future professionals must learn to leverage this change to better defend and elevate their value.