As concerns grow over artificial intelligence replacing entry-level jobs, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman strongly disagrees, calling it “one of the dumbest things” companies could do. Speaking on the Matthew Berman Podcast, Garman highlighted that junior employees are both cost-effective and among the quickest to adopt AI tools. He questioned how companies expect to thrive in the future without nurturing talent today.
Garman’s remarks come amid increasing division in the tech world over AI’s impact on early-career roles. Leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have likened AI agents to junior staff, and experts like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei warn that half of all entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear in five years. Meanwhile, youth unemployment in tech has risen, according to Goldman Sachs.
Despite this, Garman and others, like GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke, emphasize the value of young talent, who approach AI with open minds. Garman urged firms to invest in developing graduates, teaching core skills AI cannot replace. He also advised students to build versatile skills, stressing adaptability and creativity for long-term relevance.
