How will AI shape the supply chain professional of the future? AI will shape supply chain roles in two distinct ways. As chief supply chain officers think about applying AI to the workforce of the future, Gavin says, they might be overlooking the consequences of cutting back heavily on entry-level workers. Doing so removes the supply of future leaders, who are “effective because they grew up in supply chain,” Gavin says. There’s a need to rethink and redefine the profile of future supply chain leaders, Gavin says.