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 Timestamps: 00:00:00 - 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 - Connect with Patrick Akil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-akil https://twitter.com/PatrickAkil_