Artificial intelligence is transforming business at remarkable speed. Boardrooms are rethinking workflows, companies are redesigning teams, and investors continue to back technologies that promise greater efficiency. Amid the excitement, billionaire investor Robert F. Smith has introduced a perspective that extends beyond productivity metrics. Speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen, Colorado, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vista Equity Partners urged companies to resist the temptation to reduce internship opportunities as AI becomes more deeply integrated into the workplace.
Smith acknowledged that artificial intelligence will have a profound effect on employment across multiple industries. His concern, however, centres on how organisations prepare the workforce that will eventually manage, improve and govern these technologies. Internships have long served as one of the most effective entry points into professional careers, providing practical experience that classrooms alone cannot replicate. Removing those opportunities in pursuit of short-term efficiency, he argued, could weaken the long-term talent pipeline that businesses ultimately depend on.
The message carries particular significance as employers increasingly experiment with AI tools capable of automating research, coding, customer support, administrative work and data analysis. These are precisely the kinds of assignments traditionally entrusted to interns and entry-level professionals. While automation can accelerate routine tasks, Smith believes businesses still need to cultivate human judgement, creativity, collaboration and leadership. Those qualities are developed through real workplace experience rather than software alone.
Smith’s remarks also raise a broader question about corporate responsibility during periods of technological disruption. Every major technological shift has altered the labour market, but history has shown that organisations willing to invest in people alongside innovation often emerge with stronger cultures and more resilient leadership. Companies that continue creating pathways for young professionals are investing in future executives, entrepreneurs and innovators who will shape the next chapter of the digital economy.
The debate surrounding artificial intelligence is gradually moving beyond whether the technology will replace jobs. Increasingly, the focus is turning to how businesses can deploy AI while preserving opportunities for human growth. Robert F. Smith’s intervention reframes the discussion in practical terms. Innovation remains essential, but so does developing the people who will guide that innovation responsibly. As AI reshapes the global workplace, the organisations that balance technological advancement with talent development may ultimately hold the strongest competitive advantage.
