Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed a bold claim about the state of artificial intelligence, stating that the technology is already capable of performing tasks comparable to those assigned to entry-level workers. In a podcast released last week, Altman went even further. During an appearance on the Uncapped podcast, hosted by his brother Jack Altman, he suggested that AI could now handle tasks typically expected from top-tier doctoral graduates.
“In some sense AIs are like a top competitive programmer in the world now or AIs can get a top score on the world’s hardest math competitions or AIs can do problems that I’d expect an expert PhD in my field to do,” Altman explained during the podcast.
Such statements reflect a rapidly evolving reality that companies are beginning to acknowledge. Major corporations, including Amazon, have indicated that their corporate workforces may soon be trimmed in part due to advancements in AI. Similarly, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has warned that the emergence of AI technologies could result in the elimination of nearly half of all entry-level white-collar jobs.
These developments raise a critical question: with AI poised to handle increasingly complex tasks, what types of jobs will remain accessible to the newly graduated workforce?
Despite the technological shake-up, experts argue that the job market, while certainly shifting, is not entirely bleak for young professionals.
Currently, those entering the workforce are doing so in one of the toughest job markets in recent memory. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported that the unemployment rate for individuals holding a bachelor’s degree rose to 6.1% in May, up from 4.4% the previous month. Moreover, federal data examining employment trends by college majors shows that areas most exposed to AI—such as commercial art and graphic design, fine arts, and computer engineering—are seeing even higher unemployment rates, each exceeding 7%.
Art Zeile, CEO of tech career platform Dice, notes that this kind of turbulence is nothing new in the tech sector. He pointed out that close to 600,000 tech jobs were lost between 2022 and 2024, according to data compiled by Layoffs.fyi.
“There is no question that it is a challenging time to be a new graduate entering the job market. We’ve seen some reductions in hiring, especially for entry-level roles, as companies reassess their headcount and look for more specialized skills,” Zeile told Fortune.
“But I wouldn’t hit the panic button quite yet,” he added.
According to Zeile, the current employment landscape should be seen as a call to action for recent graduates. Rather than despairing, they should use this opportunity to strengthen their skill sets and bring greater clarity to their career goals. Tiffany Hsieh, director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work at Jobs for the Future, echoed this sentiment.
“Young people looking for technology or graphic design roles should be thinking about how they upskill, reskill, or pivot, but others in less impacted ones like elementary school teachers and civil engineers need to worry less,” Hsieh said in her interview with Fortune.
Altman, too, believes that while AI will transform many jobs, it will also create new opportunities that we can’t yet fully imagine.
“A lot of jobs will go away. A lot of jobs will just change dramatically, but we have always been really good at figuring out new things to do and status games or ways to be useful to each other,” he noted during the podcast with his brother. “I’m not a believer that that ever runs out.”
As an example, Altman pointed to the podcast industry, which barely existed a decade ago but now represents a substantial part of the digital media landscape. He suggested that future job titles may seem increasingly unusual from today’s standpoint but will reflect the ever-changing demands of society.
Zeile offered specific predictions about emerging careers, especially those centered on AI. He mentioned roles involving AI experience design, data storytelling, and AI governance and security. Additionally, the ethical deployment of AI and expertise in agentic AI—an evolving area in which AI agents can carry out tasks independently—will become crucial.
“Professionals who master agentic AI, which is still in its nascent stages, may become invaluable to companies that want to automate significant chunks of their workflows,” Zeile said.
Hsieh envisions future job roles that combine multiple skill sets and may seem unconventional—“Frankenstein roles,” as she describes them. These may include positions like story designer or human resources designer, which blend traditional responsibilities with human-centered skills and technology integration.
Despite uncertainties, Hsieh stressed that several industries remain stable and relatively insulated from AI disruption. Sectors such as skilled trades and healthcare continue to grow and offer promising job opportunities.
“It’s okay to explore different roles in industries you may not have planned on—you will still learn and build skills in any role,” she advised members of Generation Z. “We are all going to need to be more comfortable with career switching and adopt a lifelong learning mindset.”
While securing a job today can feel daunting, especially in the face of so much change, entry-level roles have not vanished entirely. However, graduates must adopt fresh strategies to distinguish themselves.
With AI making it easier to produce polished resumes and cover letters, relying solely on these materials is no longer sufficient. Hsieh urged new job seekers to invest time in building their professional networks and curating a compelling portfolio.
“Demonstrated experience is a valuable currency in a world where entry-level roles are scarcer and therefore more competitive,” she explained.
She suggested that graduates could showcase initiative and skill by developing minimum viable products (MVPs) or creating AI-based tools that address challenges within their desired industries or local communities. These efforts can demonstrate critical thinking and industry knowledge.
Zeile recommended treating the job hunt as a personal marketing effort, emphasizing individual strengths and a proactive mindset.
“Hiring managers are often looking for potential over experience, so it’s essential to articulate your passion and willingness to learn new skills during the interview process,” he said. “Continuous learning and upskilling, particularly in areas like AI, data analysis, or cloud technologies, can also help to set early-career professionals apart from their competition.”
In conclusion, while the employment terrain for recent graduates is shifting dramatically due to the rise of AI, opportunities still exist for those willing to adapt, grow, and think creatively about their futures.