Podcast Summary: Business Daily – "Generation AI"

Host: Hannah Mullane, BBC World Service
Date: September 14, 2025

Overview

This episode of Business Daily explores the dramatic impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the job market, with a particular focus on graduates and entry-level roles. As AI permeates the business world, host Hannah Mullane investigates whether young job seekers are being displaced, how industries are adapting, and what this means for the future of work. The episode features perspectives from recent graduates, recruiters, global business leaders, and AI pioneers to shed light on both challenges and emerging opportunities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of the Graduate Job Market

• Setting the Scene:

  • AI is reshaping job prospects for graduates, especially in fields that have traditionally offered abundant entry-level positions.
  • Economic uncertainty, federal cutbacks, and tariff issues further complicate the market.
  • There is a marked decline in the availability of entry-level work, as confirmed by both personal stories and global data.

• Notable Quote:

  • “Entry level positions are, you know, few and far between. And not having any real world experience except for a couple internships under my belt has definitely made it hard because a lot of jobs are asking for, you know, at the very least a year of experience.”
    — Kirby Child, recent graduate (03:10)

2. The Effects of AI on Entry-Level and Graduate Jobs

• Technological Disruption:

  • AI excels at menial, repetitive, and data-based tasks—jobs often filled by new graduates (05:00).
  • Entry-level, white-collar "apprenticeships" could face extinction if AI continues to replace such positions.

• Expert Perspective:

  • “AI is actually very well suited to the kind of early career professional jobs that so many of us started our careers with... That formula is going to change and that could really negatively impact younger workers if we don't do something about it.”
    — Molly Kinder, Brookings Institution (05:00)

• Global Picture:

  • The UK has experienced a 33% drop in graduate jobs, similar declines abound across Europe, while India and South Africa see rising raw numbers but still face oversupply of candidates (06:13).

3. The Recruiter's View: New Expectations and Pipeline Worries

• Changing Demands:

  • Companies no longer want large entry-level teams; the focus is now on fewer, more productive workers enabled by AI.
  • Recruiters expect new grads to be highly skilled with new tech tools, sometimes even more so than seasoned professionals (07:46).

• Pipeline Risks:

  • “If you suddenly cut out... 50 to 60% of those entry level jobs, you're going to stifle that pipeline of rising talent up. And I think at some point we're going to hit a breaking point where that's not going to be feasible.”
    — Chris Brulock, tech recruiter (09:08)

4. Rethinking Training and Education for the AI Era

• Industry Adaptations:

  • Major employers like Infosys are focusing on making graduates into AI-tool experts, but success requires changing not just tools but working methodologies too (12:46).
  • Universities are being called to integrate AI skills and practical usage across curricula.

• Quote:

  • “Just giving an AI tool to a fresher or a graduate will not drive higher productivity and efficiency… We may have to make them good at using some of those tools, also changing the ways of working.”
    — Rafi Tarafdar, CTO, Infosys (12:46)

5. Rethinking Career Choices: Jobs "Safe" from AI

• Advice from the ‘Godfather of AI’:

  • Traditional advice to become a programmer is now questioned; programming is increasingly automated by AI.
  • Manual trades like plumbing are seen as safer bets due to their reliance on dexterity and context (15:03).

• Quote:

  • “Training as a programmer doesn’t look like nearly as good a bet as it used to be… I think plumbing’s actually quite a good bet right now. Probably a better bet than training as a lawyer.”
    — Geoffrey Hinton, AI pioneer (15:03)

6. The Future of Law and Professional Services

• Legal Sector Insights:

  • While routine legal tasks are under threat from AI, complex, client-facing, and judgment-driven roles are expected to persist (16:17).
  • The industry could see more productivity per lawyer rather than a drastic reduction in total jobs. Ongoing uncertainty means conservative hiring in the short term.

• Quotes:

  • “I think your individual lawyer is going to be able to produce more over time. I think hopefully it’s a one plus one equals three type scenario.”
    — Ben Allgrove, Chief Innovation Officer, Baker McKenzie (16:17)
  • “I do think it’s a fair statement to say that we haven’t figured out yet... what the proper shape of legal practice is in three to five years time.”
    — Ben Allgrove (18:38)

7. The Big Picture: Uncertainty and Agility

• Common Thread:
  • Experts agree on the uncertainty of AI’s full long-term impact on jobs.
  • Adaptability, upskilling, and AI literacy appear essential for young professionals moving forward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | | --------- | -------------------------------------------------- | -------- | | 03:10 | "Entry level positions are, you know, few and far between..." | Kirby Child | | 05:00 | "AI is actually very well suited to the kind of early career professional jobs..." | Molly Kinder | | 07:46 | "They don't want to hire 10 engineers, they want to hire one engineer and they want that one engineer to be 10 times more productive..." | Chris Brulock | | 09:08 | "If you suddenly cut out... 50 to 60% of those entry level jobs, you're going to stifle that pipeline of rising talent up..." | Chris Brulock | | 12:46 | "Just giving an AI tool to a fresher or a graduate will not drive higher productivity and efficiency..." | Rafi Tarafdar | | 15:03 | "Training as a programmer doesn’t look like nearly as good a bet as it used to be… I think plumbing’s actually quite a good bet right now." | Geoffrey Hinton | | 16:17 | "I think your individual lawyer is going to be able to produce more over time..." | Ben Allgrove | | 18:38 | "We haven’t figured out yet... what the proper shape of legal practice is in three to five years time." | Ben Allgrove |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:11-02:32] — Introduction & the dilemma facing recent graduates
• [03:10-04:18] — Graduate experience: job hunting in 2025
• [05:00-06:13] — Expert insight: AI’s suitability for entry-level jobs
• [06:13-07:26] — International graduate job market trends (AI search findings)
• [07:26-09:08] — Recruiter's evolving expectations and pipeline concerns
• [12:46-14:42] — Infosys on upskilling graduates for AI-centric futures
• [15:03-15:53] — Geoffrey Hinton on the shifting value of career choices
• [16:17-18:38] — Legal industry’s adaptation to AI and impact on new roles

Conclusion

The episode underscores that AI is transforming the landscape for graduates and entry-level workers worldwide, accelerating some long-standing trends while introducing new uncertainties. While routine jobs are increasingly automated, the value of adaptability, continuous learning, and AI proficiency is higher than ever. Career advice is shifting; roles that rely on human dexterity and nuanced judgment are safer for now. The future remains uncertain, but staying informed and agile is the best strategy for the next generation entering the workforce.

For more on this series, listen to Business Daily via the BBC World Service.