AMD's Lisa Su says AI isn't replacing people, but is changing who they hire

During a recent discussion at the CES conference in Las Vegas, Lisa Su, the CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), emphasized that artificial intelligence is not leading to a reduction in hiring at her company. Instead, she pointed out that candidates who are well-versed in AI technology are becoming increasingly desirable. "We are not hiring fewer people," Su stated in an interview with CNBC's Jon Fortt. "In fact, our company is experiencing significant growth, which means we are actively seeking new talent, but with a focus on individuals who are forward-thinking in terms of AI." AMD is at the forefront of the AI revolution, producing graphics processing unit (GPU) chips that are essential for training AI models and managing extensive AI workloads. This positions AMD in direct competition with Nvidia, which currently holds over 90% of the AI chip market. The rise of AI has stirred concerns regarding job security and the evolving landscape of the workforce, especially since the introduction of tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, Su clarified that AI is enhancing AMD's operations, affecting how the company designs, manufactures, and tests its chips. The emphasis is on hiring individuals who fully embrace AI technologies. Su's remarks follow comments from Neel Kashkari, President of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, who suggested that AI may be causing larger companies to slow their hiring processes. He anticipates a trend of low hiring and minimal layoffs in the job market. As of December 2024, AMD's workforce stood at approximately 28,000 employees worldwide, as reported in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "AI is not replacing jobs; it's enhancing our productivity and enabling us to increase the number of products we can develop simultaneously," Su concluded, highlighting the positive impact of AI on AMD's workforce dynamics.