IBM CEO Reverses Stance on AI Job Losses, Promises More Hiring
In a surprising turn of events, IBM’s CEO, Arvind Krishna, has reversed the company’s stance on AI job losses and instead promises to increase hiring. This announcement comes as a relief to a sector that has been fearful of AI technology leading to widespread job cuts.
Previously, IBM had been one of the first major companies to acknowledge that jobs which could be performed by AI would no longer be filled by human employees. However, Krishna has now stated that IBM has no intention of laying off any programmers due to AI and, in fact, plans to hire even more employees.
During his speech at the Fortune CEO Initiative conference, Krishna confidently declared, I will get more programmers instead of letting any go. He believes that rather than resulting in job losses, AI will actually enhance the productivity of programmers by up to 30%. This aligns with various studies that suggest AI will create more job opportunities for people rather than replace them.
This shift in perspective may come as a surprise, particularly considering that Krishna had previously mentioned that around 30% of IBM’s functions would be replaced by AI and automation within five years, potentially leading to the loss of approximately 7,800 jobs. However, he now explains that while administrative functions in human resources may gradually be eliminated, IBM will be increasing the number of software engineering and sales roles over the next three to four years.
Krishna revealed that, in recent years, IBM has added 8,000 roles while subtracting only about 800. He emphasized that the first tasks to be automated are those that are repetitive and non-creative, while AI is unlikely to completely automate an individual’s entire job. It is estimated that AI may be able to take over approximately 10% to 20% of low-level tasks.
In conclusion, IBM’s CEO, Arvind Krishna, has provided reassurance regarding job losses related to AI. He now believes that AI will enhance the productivity of programmers and is committed to hiring more employees instead of laying off existing ones. While some administrative functions may be eliminated over time, IBM plans to increase the number of software engineering and sales roles. This shift in perspective highlights the positive potential of AI in creating more job opportunities for individuals.
