Artificial intelligence could reach a point where it learns, evolves and improves without human intervention within the next four years, former Google CEO Eric E Schmidt has warned. Speaking at Harvard Kennedy School, Schmidt said the next wave of AI may be capable of autonomous reasoning, knowledge creation and self-enhancement.

His comments, reported by The Harvard Crimson, suggest the technology could move beyond today’s supervised systems and enter a phase known as “recursive self-improvement.” Such systems, he said, could potentially discover new medical breakthroughs, uncover scientific facts and solve complex mathematical problems without human direction.

For students nearing graduation and early-career professionals, Schmidt’s message was both a caution and a call to prepare. The coming shift, he said, will reshape global competition, career paths and expectations in nearly every industry.

AI reshaping work and skills

Schmidt noted that many routine, data-driven tasks will be automated as AI progresses. While the technology is becoming a powerful workplace accelerator, he stressed that humans must remain responsible for high-stakes decisions and ethical oversight.

Relying solely on technical qualifications or repetitive competencies, he warned, will no longer be enough.

Instead, graduates must strengthen uniquely human skills—those machines struggle to replicate. Schmidt highlighted four core capabilities:

·        Critical thinking: To interpret complex information, question assumptions and make informed judgement calls.

·        Creativity: To develop new ideas, innovations and perspectives where AI cannot replicate originality.

·        Leadership and ethics: To ensure technology is used responsibly and decisions remain human-centred.

·        AI literacy: To understand how AI systems work and effectively collaborate with them across fields.

Interdisciplinary talent will lead the future

AI’s influence extends far beyond tech roles, Schmidt said. From healthcare and business to research and manufacturing, those who pair domain expertise with AI fluency will be in strongest demand.

For example, healthcare graduates may use AI-driven diagnostics, business leaders may apply predictive analytics and engineers may build AI-enhanced systems. The competitive edge, he noted, lies in combining subject-matter knowledge with technology proficiency.

A global competition for AI dominance

Schmidt also pointed to rising geopolitical stakes. China’s rapid progress in open-source AI, he said, is accelerating adoption worldwide. In contrast, many American AI models remain closed, potentially slowing influence and innovation diffusion.

Graduates, he added, must understand global AI policy, ethics and innovation trends—not just local industry shifts.

A roadmap for future-proofing careers

Schmidt urged young professionals to continuously learn, build multidisciplinary skills, follow international developments and prioritise human judgement and creativity.

“There is no higher duty than to preserve human agency and human freedom,” he said—calling on the next generation to prepare before AI evolves beyond human control.

For students and emerging professionals, the message is clear: adapt now, or risk being outpaced in a future where machines may soon learn to think on their own.