AI reshaping workforce: CEO of Bird advocates for high-agency generalists

Robert Vis, CEO of Bird, argues that AI is reshaping the workforce by favoring high-agency generalists over specialists. Bird, a communications infrastructure company, reduced its workforce from over 1,000 to 120 in three years, leveraging AI to automate operations and prioritize employees with multidisciplinary skills. Vis emphasized that AI enables workers to handle diverse tasks, such as engineers who understand both coding and product design. He noted that Bird still employs specialists like revenue accountants and security engineers, but those who lack multidisciplinary skills are less likely to remain. Bird reported $165 million in EBITDA in 2025 after extensive automation. Vis cautioned against using AI solely as a pretext for layoffs, urging leaders to identify repetitive tasks for automation instead. Vis highlighted that AI allows employees to take on broader roles, such as operating within design systems or automating support, sales, and accounting tasks. He stressed that AI should be used to enhance productivity, not just reduce headcount. Other executives, like Figma’s Dylan Field and Cognizant’s Ravi Kumar, have similarly argued that combining subject expertise with technological skills will become more valuable as AI blurs traditional job boundaries. While some firms are prioritizing specialists, Bird’s approach reflects a growing trend toward generalists in AI-driven environments.