The president of Cisco, Jeetu Patel, has pushed back against alarming predictions regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on entry-level jobs, labeling such fears as misguided. Speaking at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, Patel expressed his belief that humans will not become obsolete in the workforce, despite warnings from other tech leaders like Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic.
Patel acknowledged that while there may be “growing pains” associated with AI adoption, he firmly disagrees with Amodei’s assertion that AI could lead to an unemployment rate as high as 20% and potentially eliminate half of all white-collar entry-level positions. “I reject the notion that humans are going to be obsolete in like five years,” Patel stated, emphasizing the need for younger workers who bring fresh perspectives into the workplace.
Concerns Over Job Displacement
Despite Patel’s optimistic viewpoint, the current job market presents challenges for recent graduates. According to data from Oxford Economics, the unemployment rate for those aged 22 to 27 with at least a bachelor’s degree has risen above the national average for the first time since tracking began in 1980. Entry-level hiring has decreased by 23% from March 2020 to May 2025, surpassing an overall hiring decline of 18% during the same period, based on analysis from LinkedIn.
Economists are starting to see signs that AI could be affecting entry-level positions. Recent graduates in the fields of computer science and mathematics, which are particularly vulnerable to automation, have experienced an 8% drop in employment since 2022. In contrast, employment levels for older workers in these sectors have remained relatively stable.
Matthew Martin, a senior U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, noted, “AI is definitely displacing some of these lower-level jobs.” He explained that jobs involving repetitive tasks, such as data entry, are at the highest risk of automation.
The Importance of Entry-Level Roles
Patel warned that the elimination of entry-level positions would be detrimental to companies in the long run. He argued that losing entry-level jobs would remove a vital source of new perspectives and innovation. “If you just say, ‘I’m going to eradicate all entry-level jobs,’ that’s the stupidest thing a company can do in the long term,” he said.
He elaborated that significant experience can sometimes hinder progress, as older workers may cling to outdated methodologies. “I learn a lot from people who’ve just gotten out of college because they have a fresh and unique perspective,” Patel explained, highlighting the collaborative potential of combining youthful insight with seasoned experience.
While many companies are integrating AI technologies to streamline operations, experts suggest that the human element remains irreplaceable. Alan Ranger, vice president of marketing at Cognigy, emphasized that roles involving customer support and complex problem-solving will still require human oversight. “An AI can’t buy you a steak dinner,” he remarked, underscoring the continuing necessity of human workers in certain job functions.
Patel concluded by stating that the tech industry bears responsibility for ensuring a smooth transition as AI technologies evolve. “The tech community has to actually take some responsibility for this,” he said. He called for a collaborative effort between industry leaders, governments, and educational institutions to facilitate retraining and reskilling initiatives, thereby minimizing societal disruption as AI continues to advance.