Talent wars and compensation pressure

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Today’s show: 

How do top tech CEOs hire? AI has thrown out the playbook for getting hired — so what are the most innovative firms looking for? Anyone can learn any skill and automate much of it, what is to be valued in the modern labor market?

On our first AI Roundtable episode of TWiST, Jason is joined by three top tech CEOs: Wade Foster (Zapier), Mikey Schulman (Suno), and Ali Ansari (Micro1). They each give their perspective on the tech talent wars and how to get hired in 2026.

The resounding answer on how to get a job? JUST START DOING THE JOB! If you want to be a designer, start sending designs to companies you want to be hired by — don’t just sit around waiting to be hired. The biggest value you can bring is a “high agency” mindset to your company and the role. Show you get after it!

They are also hitting on:

- How AI is getting used to make music today

- The tech industry’s communication problem

- How to raise kids in the age of AI

Timestamps:

(00:00) It’s our first ever “This Week in AI” Roundtable, and we’ve got an amazing panel

(05:50) How Meta and OpenAI skew how everyone thinks about compensation

(09:37) The importance of looking beyond SF for talent

(10:24) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit.

(14:39) Is AI making more people seek out developer jobs?

(18:36) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://squarespace.com/twist

(19:36) When design becomes its own bottleneck… and some workarounds.

(22:37) It’s not how much you know, it’s how adaptable you are

(24:10) The best way to get hired: just start doing the job

(30:09) Why Ali says we’re entering the "Post-Training"

(31:34) Enterpret - Enterpret turns feedback noise into Customer Intelligence, so your team knows exactly what to fix and build next. Head to http://Enterpret.com/twist to book a demo and see it in action.

(33:32) Understanding the value of your company’s data and using it to get better outputs

(41:14) Mikey calls Suno the “GLP-1s of the music industry”: everyone uses it but no one admits it

(46:39) Mikey Talks break out AI artists like Xania Monet

(49:32) Questions raised about how AI will effect job markets

(54:43) How AI and robotics will unlock new jobs and opportunities

(58:48) Possible solutions to the AI and automation question.

(01:04:03) Technology's communication problem and how to fix it.

(01:05:24) Are people replacing their friends with AI?

(01:08:11) How CEOs are thinking about raising young kids in the world of AI.

(01:12:21) Lightning round on AI agents, workflows vs. agents

(01:16:49) Trapped value in sales calls, questions, company meetings that are unlocked by AI

(01:22:10) How Ali pitched the LAUNCH team outside of a Jeni's Ice Cream store

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Thank you to our partners:

(10:24) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit.

(18:36) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://squarespace.com/twist

(31:34) Enterpret - Enterpret turns feedback noise into Customer Intelligence, so your team knows exactly what to fix and build next. Head to http://Enterpret.com/twist to book a demo and see it in action.