Amid multiple negative reports about artificial intelligence causing a wave of layoffs and threatening white-collar jobs, IBM has brought a rare piece of positive news. The tech giant announced it will triple the number of entry-level hires it originally planned to hire in the U.S. this year. The company said the new positions will focus on tasks that require human judgment, customer interaction and oversight of AI systems.
IBM Chief Human Resources Officer Nicole Lamoreau offers hope to entry-level job seekers who are most at risk of losing their job opportunities in the age of AI. She said: "The most successful companies in the next three to five years will be those that double down on entry-level employee recruitment in the current environment." Lamoreau specifically emphasized that IBM will triple the size of entry-level recruitment for "software developers and all these jobs that the outside world thinks AI can do."
Lamoreau admitted that some responsibilities in entry-level positions at IBM have indeed been taken over by AI, but the company has redefined some positions to focus on tasks that are less suitable for automation. For example, software engineers will spend less time on regular coding and more on interacting with customers. Meanwhile, HR staff will be tasked with handling more complex issues that chatbots can’t handle. Lamoreau said this adjustment would both create skills development opportunities for employees and create greater long-term value for the company.
This promise is particularly welcome for young people looking for work. A report released by Korn Ferry last November showed that one-third of companies plan to replace entry-level positions with AI.
It is worth noting that this announcement marks a major shift in IBM's strategy. The company said late last year it would cut thousands of jobs globally as part of a restructuring and shift toward AI, software and high-margin services. Prior to this, IBM has eliminated thousands of administrative positions as AI automates routine tasks, especially in the areas of human resources and back-office operations.
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna has been a strong advocate of AI. In 2023, he said in an interview with Bloomberg that it is expected that about 30% of IBM's positions will be replaced by AI and automation within five years, and the company will suspend and slow down recruitment of positions that may be replaced by artificial intelligence in the future. However, IBM seems to have changed its stance later, saying it does not expect to lay off employees due to AI.
As AI becomes more prevalent in enterprises, public opposition becomes stronger. In addition to concerns about employment, many people don't like talking to company chatbots that often fail to resolve their issues. As a result, companies such as IBM, Dropbox and Klarna have been emphasizing their commitment to hiring human workers.
It is worth noting that IBM’s announcement of tripling entry-level hiring comes shortly after Microsoft’s AI chief Mustafa Suleiman warned that AI could eliminate most white-collar jobs within 12 months.