As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the global technology industry, software companies are rethinking hiring while countries race to become AI innovation centres, according to an interview with The Daily Star. Shafiul Hasan Tareq, CEO and co-founder of the software company Vivasoft, said Bangladesh's ability to compete in the AI era will depend on building stronger foundations. He stated that most graduates entering Bangladesh's software industry should focus on learning how to use AI effectively rather than trying to build foundation models, noting that core model development requires high competence and a "very sharp IQ." Tareq added that Bangladesh lacks the infrastructure and GPU capacity required for such development. He recommends that regular developers master coding agents and prompt engineering while learning to critically assess AI-generated responses, warning that people often "copy-paste AI answers as absolute truths" instead of challenging the AI with their own research. Regarding higher education, Tareq said public institutions often require years to revise curricula due to regulatory approval processes, leaving courses outdated. He claimed, "Our current AI syllabuses are lagging 15 to 20 years behind global standards." Rather than chasing AI trends, he argued universities should prioritise stronger programming fundamentals, analytical thinking, and emotional intelligence, adding that using AI to build software will eventually be considered "low-end" skills.