IBM Doesn’t Foresee Laying off Employees Due To Artificial Intelligence

• Several companies are laying off and plan to let go of their employees due to the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). 
• However, IBM doesn’t foresee the technology impacting its programmers’ jobs. 
• Check out what the company’s CEO has to say.

On the one hand, big companies like Meta, Google, Microsoft, and T-Mobile are laying off people. A few reasons include uncertain economic conditions, reduced revenues and profits, and technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI). On the other hand, another tech giant, IBM, has confirmed that it doesn’t intend to lay off any programmers due to AI. In fact, while some people may lose their jobs, the company plans to hire more people. That said, the company does intend to stop hiring people for jobs that AI can perform.

According to Arvind Krishna, CEO, IBM, rather than costing programmers their jobs, the technology will improve their productivity by 30%. Interestingly, Krishna had said in MayOpens a new window this year that about 30% (almost 7,800) of jobs at the company could be replaced by AI and automation over five years.

While he now believed that the company could phase out a few back-office HR roles, it may also increase the number of software engineering and sales roles over 3-4 years. According to him, “The increase was like 8,000. The decrease was like 800.” Krishna also believes that while AI may take over 10-20% of “lower level” tasks, it is unlikely to automate a person’s complete job.

See more: Meta To Lay off Employees From Its Reality Labs’ Silicon Unit

Several studies indicate that AI could impact millions of jobs worldwide. For example, a recent studyOpens a new window by Goldman Sachs predicted that about 300 million jobs could be affected by AI. However, a few other studies indicate otherwise. For example, a study by the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) found that AI, specifically generative AI, will more likely augment jobs than destroy them.

What is certain, according to IBM’s recent studyOpens a new window , is that 40% of the global workforce will have to learn new skills over the next three years owing to AI implementation.

Do you think AI will impact or augment jobs? Let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , XOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!

Image source: Shutterstock

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