Top Tech Leader Warns Against Cutting Entry-Level Jobs in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries at lightning speed, sparking warnings from some experts that it could erase millions of entry-level jobs. But one of Silicon Valley’s top executives insists that such predictions are both exaggerated and dangerous for businesses in the long run.

Jeetu Patel, president and chief product officer at Cisco, dismissed the idea that AI will render humans obsolete. Speaking at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, Patel stressed that while technological disruption is inevitable, removing early-career positions entirely would be a “short-sighted and self-destructive strategy.”

“I don’t buy into the theory that humans will soon become unnecessary,” Patel said. “It makes no sense to imagine that in five years people will have nothing meaningful to do. That’s not how progress works.”

Patel was responding directly to claims by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who suggested that artificial intelligence could drive unemployment as high as 20% and wipe out half of all white-collar entry-level jobs. While Patel expressed respect for Amodei and his work, he argued that eliminating young workers from the job market would stifle innovation rather than accelerate it.

Why Entry-Level Roles Still Matter

According to Patel, new employees bring fresh perspectives that even seasoned professionals can lack. “If companies say, ‘We’ll get rid of all entry-level jobs,’ that’s the stupidest thing they can do,” he said. “You lose the influx of new ideas and energy that challenge conventional thinking.”

He explained that experience can sometimes be a barrier rather than a benefit, as long-time professionals may dismiss approaches that failed in the past, even though circumstances have changed. By contrast, early-career employees often embrace novel solutions and technologies with fewer preconceptions.

“I spend a lot of time with interns and recent graduates,” Patel added. “They push me to think differently. The combination of fresh ideas with deep experience is what drives real breakthroughs.”

Is AI Already Hitting Young Workers?

Despite Patel’s optimism, economists warn that early signs show AI may already be hurting younger job seekers. Research from Oxford Economics found that unemployment among recent college graduates in the U.S. has surpassed the national average for the first time since tracking began in 1980.

LinkedIn data shows that entry-level hiring dropped by 23% between 2020 and 2025, compared with an 18% decline in overall hiring. Job categories most exposed to AI, such as mathematics and computer science, saw an 8% decline in new graduate employment since 2022, while older workers in those fields were largely unaffected.

“AI is definitely displacing some lower-level jobs,” said Matthew Martin, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

Automation and Human Skills

AI is proving most effective at replacing repetitive, clerical tasks like data entry. Companies that resist automation risk being left behind. But experts emphasize that human workers remain essential, particularly in roles requiring relationship-building, judgment, and creativity.

Alan Ranger, vice president of marketing at AI firm Cognigy, pointed out that while conversational AI can handle customer support at massive scale, humans are still needed to supervise, refine, and manage the technology. “An AI can’t take a client out to dinner,” he said.

Preparing for the Future

Patel emphasized that while AI will inevitably reshape industries, it should not be viewed as a replacement for human workers. Instead, he called for serious investments in retraining and education, coordinated between governments, businesses, and schools.

“The tech industry has a responsibility here,” Patel said. “We can’t assume disruption is harmless. If we fail to prepare people, the social costs will be severe. But if we get it right, AI and human ingenuity together can drive a new era of growth.”