Stop Hiring Junior Engineers Because of AI?
Beyond Coding3 Syys 2025

Stop Hiring Junior Engineers Because of AI?

As AI accelerates development, many companies are halting junior hiring, believing AI tools can replace them. Shahin Shahkarami, Director of Data & AI at Ikea Retail, argues this is a massive mistake and that now is actually the best time to invest in new talent.


In this episode/video, we cover:

Why companies should hire junior talent despite the rise of AI.

How the role of a data scientist is evolving with generative AI.

The most valuable business use cases for AI beyond chatbots.

This conversation is for tech leaders, hiring managers, and aspiring developers looking to understand how to build and grow their careers in the age of AI.



Connect with Shahin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahin-shahkarami


Full episode on YouTube ▶️

https://youtu.be/Jui-8Lx6kvk

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Timestamps:

0:00:00 - Why Now Is The Best Time to Hire Junior Talent

00:01:46 - The Massive Mistake Companies Make with AI Hiring

00:03:11 - How Junior Talent Can Stand Out in 2025

00:04:39 - Why Senior-Only Teams Can Become Negative

00:05:56 - The ROI Problem: What If Your Junior Talent Leaves?

00:07:44 - How Companies Can Actually Retain Top Talent

00:11:06 - How AI Has Changed Personal Productivity for Leaders

00:15:34 - How the Role of a Data Scientist Is Evolving

00:18:28 - The 80/20 Rule of Building AI Products

00:21:37 - The Rise of the "AI Engineer" and What It Means

00:23:37 - A Simple Strategy for Personal Growth in Tech

00:28:46 - Where Generative AI Delivers Real Business Value

00:32:37 - Why You Must Differentiate Your Business With AI Now

00:38:09 - A 2-Fold Strategy for Prioritizing AI Projects

00:40:41 - The Power of a 20% Experimentation Culture

00:43:10 - The Problem With Chatbots as a First AI Project

00:46:20 - The Danger of Releasing an 80% Good AI Product


#AI #TechCareers #DataScience

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