AI Is Not Erasing Entry-Level Jobs, But It's Changing How They Work
Experts note that artificial intelligence is not eliminating all junior positions, yet it is reshaping the landscape. New graduates now have to demonstrate skills that technology cannot easily replicate — human judgment and creativity.
From Learning to Redundancy
When communications graduate K. Sudhiksha, 23, saw her six-month internship in public relations end halfway through, she was not shocked. The official explanation cited company restructuring, but she suspected AI played a role in the decision.
“I was spending most of my time running prompts on ChatGPT,” she told CNA TODAY. “We were all encouraged to do it. I could do my tasks faster, but it also made me feel creatively stunted.”
Originally joining the firm to learn how to craft press releases and pitch stories, she soon found that AI tools were handling much of this process. Tasks like generating first drafts of media releases and summarizing weekly news coverage became automated, limiting opportunities for hands-on creative experience.
The New Expectation for Graduates
According to experts, while AI helps streamline workflow, it also raises the bar for newcomers. The message is clear: applicants must show adaptability, critical thinking, and the human insight that automation cannot fully mimic.
Reliance Comes with Caution
Ms. Sudhiksha recalled that the team was repeatedly reminded to fact-check ChatGPT’s output. Yet, she felt that depending too heavily on these tools made the job less fulfilling and stripped away the kind of creative challenge she had hoped for.
Three months after starting, her position was declared redundant — a real-world sign of how AI efficiencies are changing what entry-level roles look like today.
Author’s Summary: AI is not removing all starting jobs, but it is challenging new professionals to prove their worth through critical thinking, creativity, and sound human judgment.