In the age of AI, corporate and university leaders say soft skills are important.

In the 15th century, the Gutenberg printing press facilitated the production of books quickly and cheaply. The 19th century saw the introduction of typewriters, which accelerated record-keeping. Then, in the 21st century, the worldwide web ushered in a digital revolution.

Economists say there have been moments in history when technology threatened to fundamentally reshape the way we work, rendering once-stable jobs obsolete and introducing new roles. Aneesh Raman, LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer, said during a Dallas-area panel discussion Tuesday that the advent of artificial intelligence could be the “biggest disruption” of all.

However, the disruption could mean a change in direction, he said. At a panel discussion Tuesday at the University of North Texas focused on changing the workforce, business and education leaders said students can land jobs by developing soft skills that cannot be replicated with technology.

“The situation is changing incredibly rapidly right now,” University of North Texas President Harrison Keller said during a discussion on campus. “Tasks that used to be performed by entry-level experts are increasingly being automated.”

The panel, sponsored by LinkedIn, featured Raman. Along with CEO Ryan Roslansky, he wrote the following book: Open to Work: How to move forward in the age of AIa book dedicated to helping people navigate the arrival of AI.

Raman acknowledged that AI causes uncertainty and fear, especially for those looking for their first job. He called the rise of hot technology “the greatest job destruction in human history.”

“Work is changing, not ending,” he says. “There will be big changes for everyone. You may be the CEO of your company now, or you may be a new employee. Your job will change.”

According to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, entry-level workers in the fields most exposed to AI feel their opportunities are decreasing. At the same time, salaries are increasing for experienced workers with skills that are difficult to replicate with tools.

Last year, the Dallas Fed conducted a survey of businesses. Of the 318 respondents, approximately 59% said they use AI in some way, and 19% said they plan to use AI in the future.

Related: Dallas Fed report finds AI is making it harder to get entry-level jobs

As a result of AI, new jobs will be created and humans will have to rely on entrepreneurship, Raman said. He emphasizes the uniquely human traits known as the “5 Cs”: communication, creativity, compassion, curiosity, and courage.

While these skills are often derided as “nice to have,” Raman says that’s not the case historically.

“It is our human imagination, inventiveness, creativity, and construction that has led to progress and prosperity throughout human history,” Raman said.

Companies in North Texas may view soft skills as an asset. A Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce survey of 100 local organizations found that employers value workers for interpersonal traits such as emotional intelligence and communication more than job-specific technical skills.

Related: Your ‘soft skills’ may be more in demand than your degree, Fort Worth employer survey finds

Juliana Vasquez, a fourth-year student at UNT, uses AI to create her resume and begin her job search. The tool allowed her to apply to a higher volume of positions faster, but she said the quantity of applications exceeded the quality.

“It became difficult for me to think any further about my application,” Vazquez said. “I’m someone who likes to do things with more intention. If I apply to something, it’s because I looked at their culture.”

Vasquez, a business analytics major, completed an internship with Learning Systems where she assisted in conducting market research and using Excel sheets to identify trends. AI could complete tasks such as data entry, she said.

Technical skills feel less important these days, she said. Students need to learn how to optimize their interpersonal skills.

“We were all somewhere before AI,” she said. “You need to learn how to utilize it to remain your authentic self.”

Successful companies have employees who can effectively use tools and use them to pursue innovative ideas, Raman said.

Universities across the country are rushing to prepare their students for AI. Dallas-based AECOM announced a partnership with Southern Methodist University to develop a pipeline of engineers specializing in AI.

UNT plans to offer a bachelor’s degree program in AI this fall, which school officials are pitching as an opportunity to fill the region’s workforce demand for workers with such expertise. UNT projects that the first-year salary for someone with this degree will be about $68,000, rising to $105,000 after five years. This university already has a master’s program.

Related: UNT launches new major in artificial intelligence to meet workforce demands

“As we all try to understand the impact of AI, we need a closer relationship with LinkedIn and a closer relationship with businesses across the metropolis,” Keller said in an interview. “We have to come to the table together.”

The DMN Education Lab deepens our coverage and conversations about pressing education issues that matter to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Community Foundation of Texas, Dallas Foundation, Bobby and Lottie Lyle, Dallas Regional Chamber, Dee Dee Rhodes, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, Meadows Foundation, Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhardt, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sidney Smith-Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control over Education Lab’s journalism.