AI Won't End Entry-Level Work

It's a challenging time for young professionals, especially 22-year-old coders, as artificial intelligence (AI) advances and job growth slows in roles that AI can handle. This has sparked widespread warnings that AI could sever the career ladder, leaving younger workers disconnected from the economy.

However, this narrative may not hold up. There's no economic rule that new technologies always harm young workers; often, it's the opposite. David Deming, a labor economist at Harvard, cautions that this would contradict every past technological revolution.

Recent studies show job growth slowing for younger workers in fields like coding and customer service, partly because older workers have expertise that AI can't yet replicate. But AI's capabilities are deeply unpredictable and evolving, and younger workers are often best positioned to adapt.

For example, when desktop computers arrived, older workers were hit hardest due to less familiarity with technology. Similarly, younger people today use AI more frequently—46% of ChatGPT messages are from users aged 18-25.

While AI poses a threat to knowledge work, it may not exclusively target entry-level roles. History suggests that younger workers can thrive by embracing new technologies.

How People Actually Use AI

Recent studies from Harvard, Duke, OpenAI, and Anthropic reveal insights into AI usage:

• Women now make up half of active ChatGPT users, up from 20% initially.
• 70% of ChatGPT queries are not work-related and are growing faster than work-related ones.
• ChatGPT message volume could soon rival Google searches if growth continues.
• Only a small share of messages are for relationships or games, while automation tasks are becoming more common.
• The US leads in Claude usage, with Utah having the highest per capita usage.

These findings highlight that AI is integrated into daily life beyond just work, offering opportunities for adaptation and innovation.