However, a study from KPMG has indicated that IT support technicians and programmers could be among the worst hit by automation in the future, with up to 26% of their tasks potentially being automated. Despite this, Krishna maintains that while AI could support workers in "lower level tasks", the prospect of a role being entirely replaced is unlikely. He also emphasized that developers and IT practitioners will be supported by automated tools in their daily tasks, improving productivity.
Key takeaways:
- IBM CEO Arvind Krishna has stated that the company has no plans to lay off tech staff, such as developers or programmers, and instead plans to increase hiring in these areas.
- However, IBM plans to cut nearly 8,000 staff working in back-office operations, including human resources, as part of a move towards automation.
- Despite concerns about job losses due to AI and automation, Krishna believes that AI will create more jobs than it takes away and that the roles most likely to be impacted are back-office, white-collar jobs.
- Research suggests that while AI-related job losses could be an issue in the coming years, much of these losses will be in back-office positions, suggesting a reprieve for those working in frontline tech roles.