Top exec reveals the ‘stupidest thing’ companies adopting AI can do

Jeetu Patel, the president of Cisco, has voiced strong opposition to the alarming claims made by some tech leaders that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to the elimination of entry-level jobs. Speaking at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, Patel stated, "I refuse to believe that humans will be rendered obsolete. That notion seems completely absurd." While acknowledging that there may be disruptions in the workforce due to AI, Patel pushed back against comments from Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who suggested that AI could drive unemployment rates as high as 20% and wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs. Patel joins other tech executives in arguing that rather than disappearing, jobs will evolve, requiring workers to learn new skills. Patel's remarks come at a time when entry-level hiring is declining and major tech companies are increasingly integrating AI into their operations. He emphasized his belief that eliminating entry-level positions would be detrimental for companies in the long run. "To say you’re going to eradicate all entry-level jobs is the stupidest thing a company can do because it removes the fresh perspectives that younger workers bring," he explained. Highlighting the importance of collaboration between experienced professionals and new graduates, Patel noted, "I spend a lot of time with younger employees and interns because they offer unique viewpoints that, when combined with my experience, create innovative solutions." Despite the healthy overall job market, recent graduates from the Class of 2025 are facing significant challenges in securing employment, as highlighted by economists. The unemployment rate for recent graduates, aged 22 to 27 with at least a bachelor's degree, has surpassed the national average for the first time since tracking began in 1980, according to Oxford Economics. Entry-level hiring has dropped by 23% from March 2020 to May 2025, compared to an 18% decline in overall hiring during the same period. While various factors contribute to this trend, some economists assert that AI is impacting job availability, particularly in industries like computer science and mathematics, where employment for recent graduates has decreased by 8% since 2022. Experts agree that jobs involving repetitive tasks are most vulnerable to automation. Alan Ranger, vice president of marketing at Cognigy, noted, "The less interesting clerical jobs will be automated. If you don’t keep up with automation, you risk going out of business." However, Ranger maintained that while the number of customer support roles may decrease, humans will still be essential for managing AI systems and addressing complex challenges. "Account management and sales positions are safe for the foreseeable future because AI can’t replicate human experiences, like sharing a meal together," he added. Patel concluded by stressing the responsibility of the tech industry and society to facilitate a smooth transition to advanced AI. "We must recognize that disruption affects real people. Many workers won’t simply shift to new roles without support for retraining and reskilling," he said. "If we neglect this responsibility, we risk causing significant societal pain, which we should all strive to avoid."