Students in Dallas Bet on Human Connection to Compete with Artificial Intelligence

In Dallas, United States, students at Skyline High School are discovering that the barber trade goes far beyond using scissors. In a landscape where artificial intelligence begins to reshape the job market, these young people learn that technical skill must be accompanied by strong human connection to ensure professional relevance.

Manzell Robertson, a barber for 35 years and instructor of the class, explains to students that professionals in the sector wear many masks. For him, it is not enough to know how to cut hair; one must act as a sports analyst, philosopher, philanthropist, and counselor simultaneously. This multifaceted nature of the work is central to the practical curriculum offered at the school.

Student Alexa Sandoval reports that her interest in the sector began in childhood, when she played with cutting her dolls' hair. Today, she understands that preparation for service begins before the client even sits in the chair. "Before sitting them in a chair, I know a little about their lives, what they do or their names," Sandoval states, highlighting the importance of initial dialogue.

The bet on personal interaction gains strength in light of recent economic data. A study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, released in September 2026, pointed to a drop of approximately 8% in job openings in the first quarter of 2025 for occupations with tasks more susceptible to automation by generative AI, compared to positions less exposed to this technology.

For student Ricky Ayala, these figures raise questions about which skills are irreplaceable. He believes that, regardless of technological advancement, human competencies will remain essential. "No matter how advanced it becomes, I don't think it will replace human skills," said Ayala.

Robertson reinforces this view by stating that artificial intelligence will hardly be able to interact in the same way a barber or cosmetologist does with their client. Building this trust is not always easy, as some clients are more reserved, requiring effort to "crack the shell," as Ayala describes it. For the students, this genuine exchange of conversations and mutual knowledge forms the basis of a job they do not want to see disappear.

The future of work may be in constant transformation, but these young people hope that there will always be room for the person behind the chair, serving one client at a time with the attention only humans can offer.