When interns disappear: How AI is hollowing out early-career training – HR News

Summary

MJ Behrman, Global Head of Marketing and Media at Designit, warns that AI is automating many entry-level tasks and, in doing so, is removing the informal on-the-job experiences that build judgement, confidence and essential human skills. Graduate job postings have plunged and big firms are taking fewer graduates — a shift that looks efficient today but risks creating a long-term soft-skills deficit.

The article argues HR leaders must redesign early-career development with long-term growth in mind: blend AI-enabled efficiency with structured learning, mentoring and intentional opportunities for responsibility, so emerging professionals still learn to navigate ambiguity and people dynamics.

Key Points

Graduate job postings have fallen sharply; some large employers are reducing graduate intake as AI takes on entry-level tasks.
Early-career roles often provide informal, proximity-based learning (listening in on meetings, real-time feedback) that AI automation can remove.
Removing ‘menial’ tasks can unintentionally strip out chances to build judgement, resilience and interpersonal skills.
AI is strong on pattern execution but weak on nuance, ambiguity, ethical judgement and reading interpersonal dynamics.
HR must redesign roles and employee journeys: combine AI efficiency with meaningful responsibilities, structured feedback and mentorship.
When used intentionally, AI can enhance development by reducing busywork and freeing time for creativity and problem-solving.
Organisations that design growth into the employee experience will be better placed to sustain leadership and decision-making capabilities long-term.

Context and relevance

This piece sits at the intersection of two accelerating trends: rapid AI adoption in the workplace and a shrinking entry-level job market. For HR and talent leaders, it highlights a strategic risk: short-term efficiency gains can hollow out the future leadership pipeline. The article is directly relevant to anyone overseeing graduate programmes, early-career hiring or L&D strategy, and ties into broader debates about inclusive growth, workforce planning and skills development in an AI era.

Why should I read this?

Look — if you hire, manage or train juniors, this one’s for you. It spells out how taking away the ‘boring’ stuff with AI can also take away the tough-but-essential moments that make people good at their jobs. The article gives HR leaders a clear nudge: don’t let efficiency eat your future talent. Read it to get practical clarity on why you need to design development, not just automation.