Verizon CEO Dan Schulman has made one of the boldest AI predictions yet from a business leadership stage. Speaking at the Ford Pro Accelerate event in Detroit on September 30, 2026, in conversation, he said artificial general intelligence could arrive within six to 18 months. In his view, today's models are the weakest ones people will ever use, because a major leap in capability arrives roughly every two months.

Schulman did not stop at AGI. He expects what he calls the era of quantum computing about two years later, bringing power he described as today's technology multiplied by 1,000. Capable humanoid robotics, he said, should follow between 2030 and 2035. Taken together, he argued that progress that would normally take a century could be compressed into just five to 10 years. That pace is faster than training systems, labor markets and public policy are built to absorb.

For Schulman, this is not only a technology story but a leadership one. Verizon has more than 250,000 employees and contractors, and he said the company must move from tightly defined roles toward a much more fluid organization. Verizon recently announced a $70 million initiative offering free AI training to American workers, not only its own staff, along with partnerships with local career-development organizations. He also warned that everyone's job will shift and that people will not automatically land in a better place.

Other leaders on the panel offered a more grounded view of the AI era. PG&E CEO Patti Poppe said the future power grid will use sensors, edge computing and predictive tools to spot risks early, yet skilled field workers will still be essential. Trane Technologies CEO Dave Regnery compared today's AI fears with early worries about personal computers and said AI can make buildings about 15% more efficient than their design baselines. Stanley Black & Decker CEO Chris Nelson described autonomous drilling robots that handle repetitive work so tradespeople can focus on higher-value tasks. Dycom CEO Dan Peyovich said his biggest challenge is finding enough workers to build the physical networks that AI depends on.

Why does this matter for IT and business leaders? AI is not only a software upgrade. It depends on fiber, power, data centers and skilled people. Companies that treat AI purely as automation may miss the infrastructure and talent gap, while those that invest in training, benefits and clear career paths may gain a real competitive edge. The discussion also shows that views on AI differ: some leaders see rapid disruption, while others see AI as a companion that augments human work.

Schulman's closing advice was scenario planning. Leaders should ask what happens if AI gains arrive faster than jobs, training programs and institutions can adjust, and then build guardrails, training and support programs to reduce that risk. He acknowledged that safeguards are needed, but said the technology will keep moving forward.

Whether or not AGI arrives on his exact timeline, the message to boardrooms is clear: prepare early. Organizations that start upskilling employees, rethinking roles and planning for multiple scenarios today will be better placed to handle whatever the next decade of AI brings.