[karmakaze]

I see varying comments here like use AI, don't use AI, etc and I agree with all of it. Don't always use AI, and even when you do, learn the fundamentals and how to use AI to get the output/outcome you want--that means also learning what it is you want and ways that AIs fail.

On top of all that I'd add perhaps having a side hobby in learning about AI research/developments and harnesses (Claude Code/Pi/OpenClaw/NanoClaw/Hermes/etc) and auxiliary systems like vector databases and graph databases. Being an AI wrangler could be the equivalent skill that 'big data' processing was previously. Even just being able to speak competently on these could be an edge.