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AI Adoption Raises Concerns About Job Prospects For New Graduates

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 16, 2026

Companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence to automate workplace tasks and improve productivity. At the same time, some business leaders warn that the shift could create new challenges for entry-level professionals.

Rising Unemployment For New Graduates

ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott recently noted that AI-driven productivity increases could push unemployment rates among new college graduates into the mid-30% range over the next few years. “So much of the work is going to be done by agents,” McDermott stated during a discussion on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street,” suggesting that young professionals may find it increasingly difficult to differentiate themselves in a competitive corporate environment.

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Historic Shifts In Labor Markets

Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York show unemployment among recent college graduates at about 5.7%. The underemployment rate has reached 42.5%, the highest level since 2020. The figures reflect broader changes in hiring trends as companies invest in automation and digital tools designed to improve efficiency.

Corporate Strategy Amid Technological Disruption

Recent strategic moves by industry leaders underscore this shift. For instance, Block has announced plans to reduce its workforce by nearly 50% as automation takes over many traditional roles. Similarly, software company Atlassian recently confirmed it would trim approximately 10% of its employees to bolster investments in AI, a decision that has already affected its market performance.

Looking To The Future

Prominent CEOs are positioning their firms for a future dominated by intelligent automation. Palantir CEO Alex Karp has expressed ambitions to multiply revenue tenfold while simultaneously downsizing, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy confirmed plans to reduce corporate headcount as AI tools become more ingrained in business processes.

Balancing Cost Reduction With Growth

McDermott said ServiceNow has used AI tools to automate many customer service functions previously handled by employees. According to him, AI systems now perform about 90% of those tasks. Executives say the adoption of AI tools can reduce hiring needs while allowing companies to maintain or increase productivity. Companies across multiple industries are continuing to evaluate how automation and AI systems affect workforce planning.

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Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement Limits State Claims Over Children’s Data

by News Editor

August 28, 2026

Meta’s $18 billion settlement with attorneys general from 29 U.S. states includes a provision limiting future state claims over the company’s use of children’s data for age-assurance systems.

Under the agreement, Meta must develop, train and begin testing a system to identify users under 13 within a year of the settlement taking effect. The company already uses AI-based age-detection tools, although the agreement does not require the new system to use AI.

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States Agree To Limits On Future Claims

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally restricts the collection and retention of personal data from children under 13. Under the settlement, the 29 state attorneys general agreed not to bring past, present or future claims under COPPA or similar state laws over the specified use of children’s data.

Meta will not be permitted to use information from users under 13 for advertising, marketing or algorithmic optimisation.

Federal Enforcement Remains Unclear

COPPA is primarily enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which is not a party to the agreement. That leaves open the possibility of separate federal action over how Meta collects or uses children’s data.

Another issue is whether Meta can keep age-assurance data isolated from its other systems. An independent auditor will monitor compliance, but the settlement does not fully specify what data Meta can retain for training, how long it can be stored or whether derived insights can be used elsewhere.

Legal Risks Remain

Joshua Wurtzel, a partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan, said states could still pursue claims if Meta uses the data outside the settlement’s limits. Such cases could depend on how those limits are interpreted.

Peter Jackson, a data and intellectual property attorney at Greenberg Glusker, said the provision could “disincentivize future enforcement actions.”

The agreement gives Meta greater legal certainty around using children’s data for age assurance, but questions remain over federal enforcement, data retention and secondary use.