Why AWS CEO Matt Garman Calls Replacing Junior Devs with AI 'The Dumbest Idea' (And Why Amazon Is Hiring 11,000 Interns Anyway)

In an insightful interview with Platformer, AWS CEO Matt Garman shared a refreshing perspective on the future of work in the era of artificial intelligence. While many fear that generative AI will displace entry-level talent, Garman labeled the idea of replacing junior workers with AI as "one of the dumbest things I've ever heard," arguing that companies risk destroying their future pipeline of senior leaders if they stop training fresh talent. Underscoring this belief, Amazon is actively hiring 11,000 interns and recent graduates this year. Garman compared the AI transition to the advent of the Excel spreadsheet, noting that tech is shifting software engineering roles toward higher-value system architecture, problem-solving, and code review rather than eliminating jobs outright. Additionally, he highlighted a profound shift in enterprise AI ROI, with 90% of enterprise CIOs now seeing a clear path to material returns compared to treating AI strictly as an experimental cost center just a year prior.  

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