5 Thoughts on AI
May 2025
I’ve been reading and thinking a lot recently about the role and impact of AI on companies, the workplace, and jobs.
And here’s my thinking so far - it’s far from fully-fledged, so I’d love to get your take.
1️⃣ There’s a lot of hype and headlines about global businesses like PwC or McKinsey fast-tracking AI in the workplace, but for a huge majority of companies and employees, that’s not the case. The headlines don’t paint the full picture. Half of the people who responded to my poll two weeks ago said AI is having minimal impact so far. But we can't ignore its existence, as employers or as job-seekers.
2️⃣ As the father of a daughter at university and several more children just a few years’ behind, I’m concerned that AI will, though, affect many graduate jobs. Many junior tasks can and will be done better, quicker, and cheaper by AI, and hiring numbers (and payroll costs) are going the wrong way.
3️⃣ And if there’s no ‘grad intake’ or it’s more limited, then how much potential is being lost? What does the future look like for many grads - how do we reshape the way companies work so people have decent jobs after education, and we’re also ensuring the pipeline of tomorrow’s senior people is healthy? And what about the over 40s or 50s who have a wealth of experience and knowledge but are likely to be passed over if not deemed tech-savvy enough.
4️⃣ I’ve friends in consultancy - they’re looking at pricing. No longer can they bill on time with clients well aware that many are using AI to cut the time to do stuff. It’s about value and the human experience and insight, they argue. But it’s a tough sell, especially in creative industries.
5️⃣ Recruitment - one area I can claim to understand well - is a diverse sector, with all sorts of different firms and models, and services. But one big concern is the attempt by many firms - from LinkedIn downwards - to shoehorn AI into their processes. It’s not done well, and the candidate UX is dreadful by and large. The sector is crying out for genuine innovation that adds value, not mismatched overload.
6️⃣ Tied to this, the most successful placements are those that consider attitudes, intent, chemistry, culture, aspirations, etc., ahead of qualifications or the ability to fill in an application form well so it passes the screening phases. AI and tech in general are too crude too often, and a lot of great talent is passed over.
Sadly, I don’t have the answers or solutions, but as I think about it, we need to be fully aware of what’s happening and have a proper joined-up conversation, for all our good.
AI is here. We can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Let’s talk about it as humans and come up with solutions that work for all of us positively, not just a few.