IBM CEO Arvind Krishna is sounding the alarm on the disruptive power of artificial intelligence, warning that many jobs, especially in white-collar sectors, could be eliminated or drastically changed over the next five years. He highlighted that positions involving repetitive or routine work are most vulnerable, particularly within areas like finance, human resources, and administrative support.

Krishna emphasized that while AI offers undeniable productivity and efficiency benefits, the transformation it brings to the workforce will be substantial.

Some roles will be phased out entirely, while others will be restructured to work in tandem with intelligent systems. The looming shift, he noted, is not speculative but already underway.

Why It Matters: For CIOs and technology executives, Krishna’s warning and similar ones, demand urgent strategic reflection. Notably, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman echoed this sentiment in a recent internal memo, stating: “No one is immune, not even me.” These converging perspectives highlight the need for CIOs to go beyond adoption and champion enterprise-wide cultural change. Tech leaders must lead the charge in upskilling teams, reevaluating legacy workflows, and embedding AI literacy across the organization to remain competitive in the coming AI era.

• Routine Office Jobs Are at the Frontline of Automation: Krishna identified that jobs involving structured, rule-based activities, like data entry, report generation, and document handling, are most likely to be impacted by AI. These tasks are prevalent in white-collar environments, making a significant portion of the workforce vulnerable. The CEO emphasized that roles with clearly defined processes and little need for human judgment are already being assessed for potential automation.

• HR and Finance Functions Already Undergoing Structural Changes: IBM has already taken measurable steps toward AI integration within its internal departments, particularly in human resources and finance. Krishna revealed that hiring for certain support functions in these areas has been paused, as the company evaluates how AI can replace or support these roles. He described back-office processes like payroll, benefits administration, and resume screening as prime examples of where AI has started to assume operational control.

• AI Will Enhance Rather Than Eliminate All Roles: While warning of displacement, Krishna maintained that AI will not universally destroy jobs. Instead, he predicted a shift in how human labor is used, moving away from mundane execution and toward higher-value, strategic tasks. Employees may increasingly find themselves working alongside AI tools, focusing on decision-making, creativity, and interpersonal interactions that machines cannot easily replicate.

• IBM Advocates a Redeployment Strategy Over Mass Layoffs: Krishna described IBM’s approach as one of “redeployment” rather than outright workforce reduction. The company intends to move employees whose jobs are automated into new roles where their skills can be retrained or redirected. This view supports a more optimistic outlook on AI, one that sees the technology as a tool for evolution rather than elimination of jobs.

• A Five-Year Window for Transformational Change: Krishna predicted that the effects of AI on employment will become sharply visible within a three- to five-year timeframe. He pointed to growing enterprise comfort with AI adoption and the increasing return on investment as key drivers. Organizations that embrace AI early will be more likely to gain competitive advantage, but they will also face hard choices about workforce structure and reskilling.

Go Deeper -> IBM CEO warns AI could wipe out ‘many’ jobs within 5 years – FOX Business