Replacing entry-level work with AI may come with 'a toll to pay'

AI is reshaping, and in some cases, replacing entry-level work. Without junior roles, who will become the next generation of managers?

Just a few years ago, a junior employee in finance was expected to master Excel, learn about the company and analyze data in response to specific requests. 

Today, AI can handle much of that work, and entry-level hires are increasingly asked to review AI-generated output, make judgment calls and manage risk – responsibilities that traditionally required years of firsthand experience, according to Peter Watkins, senior director of university programs at the CFA Institute. 

“When you were an apprentice doing something 200 years ago, you needed about two or three years of work alongside other people,” Watkins said. “It’s almost like we’ve forgotten that period is needed for someone to be really effective in the next stage in their career.”

While some companies are just starting to dabble in AI deployment, early adopters have dived in. According to NVDIA’s State of AI in Financial Services: 2026 Trends report, 73% of respondents in leadership roles said AI is important to their company’s future success and 89% of those surveyed said the technology has increased revenue and reduced annual costs.

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