The debate over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the job market continues, with opinions divided among industry leaders. Christian Klein, CEO of SAP, does not view AI as a job killer, instead seeing it as an opportunity for employees to upskill and take on new, value-adding tasks. In an interview, Klein reported that the company has already seen success, with a 30 percent increase in developer productivity thanks to the use of AI.
Klein’s comments come in response to statements made by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who warned of mass layoffs and the destruction of millions of jobs in the United States due to AI. While acknowledging that AI will change jobs in various industries, Klein believes that the technology will free up time for creative thinking and genuine value creation, as routine tasks are automated.
Bernhard Rohleder, the main executive of the German IT industry association Bitkom, shares a similar view, predicting that the need for skilled labor in Germany will decrease due to AI. He notes that some tasks, such as technical translations and simple office work, will be performed by machines in the future, but this does not necessarily mean a negative impact on the labor market.
Rohleder attributes the potential benefits of AI to the increased competitiveness of German companies and the improved performance of public administrations and public services. He believes that Germany will not experience negative effects on the job market in the near future, but rather an increase in the country’s competitiveness and the potential for improved public services. In contrast, he notes that the situation might be different in countries with a higher youth unemployment rate.