AWS CEO: Replacing Junior Employees with AI is 'The Dumbest Idea'
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In a recent conversation, Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Matt Garman stated that the idea of replacing junior employees with artificial intelligence (AI) is 'the dumbest thing I've ever heard.' Garman discussed AWS's Kiro AI-assisted coding tool with AI investor Matthew Berman and mentioned some corporate leaders' belief that AI could replace all junior employees in companies.
In response, Garman questioned, 'Then who will you have to learn from in ten years?' He argued that junior employees are often the least expensive in a company and have the closest interaction with AI tools. He emphasized, 'We should continue recruiting young people from universities and teach them how to properly build software and analyze problems.'
Garman also opposed another AI-related view—measuring its value by the proportion of code generated by AI in an organization. He called this a 'stupid metric,' explaining that while organizations can use AI to produce 'an infinite amount of code,' the quality may be poor. 'Often, less code is better, not more,' he said. 'I’ve never understood why this metric interests people.'
Nevertheless, Garman noted that over 80% of AWS developers use AI in some capacity. He highlighted that AI applications extend beyond coding to include writing unit tests, assisting with documentation, and collaborative work between developers and AI agents. He observed that AWS developers are increasingly using AI tools weekly.
When offering career advice, Garman suggested that modern youth need to learn how to learn, not just master specific skills. 'Key skills to emphasize include: How to think independently? How to develop critical problem-solving abilities? How to foster creativity? How to cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning?' He believes that with rapid technological advancements, narrow skills alone cannot sustain a 30-year career. He hopes educators will teach students how to think and break down problems, asserting that young people mastering these skills will thrive in the future.
Key Takeaways:
Junior employees are the least expensive and most AI-engaged in companies—they shouldn’t be easily replaced.
Measuring AI by code generation is a 'stupid metric'; fewer high-quality lines matter more.
🧠 Modern education should focus on fostering independent thinking, problem-solving, and lifelong learning.