AI Tools Shift Entry-Level Tasks at Microsoft and Other Firms

Ume Habiba joined Microsoft last year as a junior software engineer and was assigned to build a new feature for Azure Networking instead of routine bug fixes. Habiba said she had expected to spend most of her time on basic tasks. She described the assignment as unexpected for someone in her first professional role.

Job postings for junior positions on Indeed fell 7 percent in 2025 from the prior year, while postings for senior roles rose 4 percent. 2 percent for all workers, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Laura Ullrich, director of economic research at Indeed, linked the shift to economic conditions and the cost of AI systems.

Former Cisco CEO John Chambers said AI is likely to reduce demand for entry-level roles in the near term before new job categories emerge.

Okta, junior auditors now use an AI assistant that compares compliance documents against standard examples and identifies inconsistencies. Rebecca Port, Okta's chief people officer, said the tool allows staff to move directly to higher-level analysis.

Microsoft junior sales representatives use AI to rehearse customer pitches, a task previously handled through role-play with senior colleagues, said Katy George, corporate vice president of workforce transformation.

Jennifer Tosti-Kharas, a professor of organizational behavior at Babson College, said repetitive tasks help new employees build intuition and decision-making skills. She noted that AI does not accelerate the development of workplace maturity. EY and KPMG are testing AI-driven training programs for entry-level staff and some experienced employees.