IBM plans to use software powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to replace some administrative jobs that become available in the coming years. IBM CEO Arvind Krischna stated in an interview with Bloomberg that around one-third of the human resources department’s jobs could be replaced by AI and automation within five years. Additionally, IBM will no longer fill certain positions in various departments.
Approximately 7,800 out of the company’s 26,000 employees who have no direct client contact would be affected by this move. Krischna stated that tasks such as producing work records or moving employees to other sections of the company would be completely automated. However, tasks such as workforce and productivity planning would likely not be replaced by AI within the next decade.
Software developers still in demand
IBM will continue to create jobs in software development and departments with customer interaction. The company, which once produced computers, has been focusing on large-scale computers, software, and IT services for years. IBM has around 260,000 employees in total.
Artificial intelligence, which refers to self-learning programs, is expected to fundamentally alter the job market in the years ahead, according to experts. Text automation tool ChatGPT, Google’s competitor software Bard, and programs that can create images based on textual descriptions are all generating a lot of interest.
No risk of mass unemployment?
Economist Jens Südekum, however, is not concerned that AI will lead to a threat of mass unemployment. According to Südekum, some professions are characterized by activities that can be easily replaced by technology. These activities include “administrative routine tasks like filling in Excel files and writing standard texts that are increasingly repetitive, research, and compiling information.”
