LinkedIn has launched a new book aimed at helping Australians navigate the rapid transformation of work as artificial intelligence reshapes roles, skills and career paths.
Titled Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI, the HarperCollins-published book was officially unveiled in Australia this week by LinkedIn and Microsoft, positioning itself as a practical guide for professionals looking to stay relevant in an AI-driven workplace.
Written by LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky and LinkedIn chief economic opportunity officer Aneesh Raman, the book draws on insights from more than one billion LinkedIn members alongside Microsoft research. It focuses on how workers can use AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, their careers.
LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand managing director Matt Tindale said while the pace of change may feel overwhelming, many Australians are already more open to AI than they realise.
“The world of work is changing faster than most of us expected, and it’s okay to find that daunting,” he said.
“But the data tells us that Australians are more ready to adapt than they might think. A new LinkedIn poll found that 78 per cent of Australians feel either relieved or curious when AI takes on tasks they used to do at work — and that openness is exactly the mindset that gets people ahead.”
To mark the launch, LinkedIn hosted a Sydney event bringing together industry leaders and LinkedIn Top Voices to discuss how AI is reshaping the workplace.
Panellists included LinkedIn News editor and career expert Brendan Wong, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand national CTO Sarah Carney, The Daily Aus co-founder Sam Koslowski, and Publicis Groupe ANZ chief people officer Jessica Farrell.
Carney said the key to adapting to AI is starting small and building confidence through practice.
“AI is moving from something people read about to something they’re expected to use at work — and that can feel like a big shift,” she said.
“When you pair AI literacy with human strengths like judgement, communication and creativity, it becomes a real advantage in your day-to-day work and your career.”
New LinkedIn data shows Australians are approaching AI with cautious optimism, with 42 per cent saying they feel relieved when AI takes over routine tasks and 36 per cent curious about what comes next. Just 17 per cent reported feeling threatened.
However, the pace of change is still proving challenging, with 37 per cent of professionals saying they feel overwhelmed by how quickly they are expected to adopt AI tools. At the same time, 63 per cent believe those who resist AI risk falling behind.
Despite the shift, trust in human judgement remains strong, with 82 per cent of Australians saying human insight is irreplaceable.
The data also highlights the scale of change underway, with hiring for AI talent up more than 300 per cent over the past nine years, creating 1.3 million roles globally. AI and data capabilities now dominate Australia’s fastest-growing skills, with prompt engineering emerging as a key area of demand.
Meanwhile, 90 per cent of chief people officers expect work to increasingly be organised around skills rather than traditional job titles as roles continue to evolve.
