Era AI: From Technical Execution to Strategic Core Competency

The development of artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed the competitive landscape of modern business. According to Jack Kong, CEO of Nano Labs, this transformation not only changes how we work but also redefines what truly constitutes an advantage in business and individual career development. This paradigm shift has shifted core competencies toward aspects that cannot be automated.

Why Execution Is No Longer the Foundation of Competitive Advantage

AI technology has significantly lowered implementation costs. Tasks that once required large teams and months of work can now be completed more quickly and efficiently. However, the democratization of this technology creates new challenges. As technical execution becomes easily accessible to everyone, the differentiating factor lies in something more fundamental: making the right strategic decisions.

Companies and individuals relying solely on technical advantages will soon fall behind. Conversely, those capable of making wise strategic choices—determining the right direction before execution—will become market leaders.

New Core Competencies: Vision, Judgment, and Market Taste

In this era, true core competencies shift into three main dimensions. First is a clear vision of the future and the ability to identify opportunities unseen by competitors. Second is accurate assessment of trends, the ability to read market signals, and a deep understanding of consumer behavior. Third is taste—an intuition about what will be relevant and valuable in the future.

These core competencies cannot be easily bought or automated. They instead reflect experience, intuition, and a deep understanding of one’s industry.

Concrete Evidence from the Web3 and Cryptocurrency World

This phenomenon is highly visible in the Web3 and cryptocurrency ecosystem, where technical barriers to launching protocols or blockchain applications have drastically decreased. Thousands of cryptocurrency projects can now be created with available toolkits. However, what differentiates successful projects from failures is not code quality or technical infrastructure.

Instead, success depends on the team’s ability to allocate resources strategically, choose the right market niche, understand community dynamics, and anticipate regulations. These are the true core competencies—unique insights and sound judgment.

Conclusion: Valuable Assets in the AI Era

In an era where execution becomes a commodity, unique insights become the most valuable asset. Core competencies have shifted from “how we do things” to “what we should do and why.” For businesses, this means greater investment in strategic thinking and talent with visionary capabilities. For individuals, it presents an opportunity to develop core competencies that are difficult to replicate: strategic thinking, market judgment, and sharp business intuition.