AWS CEO calls firing junior workers for AI “dumbest thing ever,” lauds their hybrid work habits

AWS CEO Matt Garman has sharply criticized companies that fire junior workers because AI can do their jobs, calling it “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” His stance reflects a growing debate about AI’s role in the workforce, as companies grapple with how to integrate artificial intelligence without sacrificing human talent development and long-term organizational capabilities.

What they’re saying: Garman defended junior employees as essential to company growth and AI adoption during a YouTube interview with Matthew Berman.

• “The dumbest thing I’ve ever heard” was his direct response to the idea of replacing junior workers with AI tools.
• He argued that junior staff are “usually the least expensive, but also the most engaged with AI tools, therefore they’re best set up to feel the boost of AI in their workflows – rather than be replaced by it.”

Why this matters: Without junior employees gaining experience, companies risk having no skilled workforce in the future, according to Garman’s long-term perspective.

• He advocates for continued hiring of graduates to teach them core software and problem-solving skills as a defense against future workplace challenges like today’s skills shortages.
• This approach positions AI as a productivity enhancer rather than a replacement strategy.

The big picture: AWS developers are already heavily integrated with AI tools, but the company sees this as augmentation rather than substitution.

• Over 80% of AWS developers now use AI in their workflows across code generation and other tasks.
• When asked about AI-generated code percentages (noting that at least a third of Google, Meta, and Microsoft’s code is now AI-generated), Garman dismissed this as a “silly metric.”

Key insights: Garman emphasized that “curious” workers will benefit most from AI integration.

• He recommended workers “be flexible, be willing to learn, and be willing to accept that their job may be a little bit different” during this transition period.
• The approach combines individual learning desire with Amazon’s training initiatives to maximize AI benefits.

Leadership alignment: Garman’s position aligns with broader Amazon leadership thinking on workforce impact.

• Amazon CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged in June 2024 that AI will ultimately replace some human workers but predicted it would create other jobs, avoiding a net loss of roles.
• This reflects a measured approach to AI adoption that considers both immediate productivity gains and long-term human capital needs.