By Salma El-Sakka
University graduates are increasingly stepping into roles centered on managing artificial intelligence agents, but experts warn that heavy reliance on AI may come at the expense of learning core professional skills.
New AI-Focused Graduate Roles Emerge
Lotte Underwood, 25, works as an AI associate at London-based PR agency Fight or Flight. She oversees around 30 AI agents that handle industry research, client reporting, media interview preparation, and image generation. Her role involves checking agent outputs and monitoring how clients appear in responses from tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Dillan Patel, 24, joined engineering software company Stride as an intern and now serves as an AI automation analyst. He developed an internal chatbot to capture a retiring senior employee's knowledge and builds agents to automate repetitive tasks across the company.
Cian Clinton, 23, a graduate at consultancy Valliance, uses about 10 AI agents daily. He says the technology allows him to take on responsibilities that would typically require four to five years of experience, accelerating his career progression.
AI Accelerates Responsibilities, Alters Career Paths
Research from PwC's 2026 AI Jobs Barometer, which analyzed 2.4 million entry-level positions in the US, found that roles most influenced by AI are now seven times more likely to require traditionally senior-level skills such as motivational leadership, strategic decision-making, and team building. Those roles have grown 35% since 2019, while other entry-level positions shrank by 10%.
Debra Maxwell, CEO of outsourced contact centre company ArvatoConnect, plans to resume graduate hiring with a focus on "AI disruptor" roles that challenge the organization to apply AI holistically. She argues that AI can make graduate jobs more integral, fostering a more loyal and engaged workforce.
Concerns Over Missing Traditional Trade Skills
Simon Pratt, chief operating officer at Portman Finance Group, cautions that graduates becoming too AI-centric may miss learning the trade. His company's two-year graduate programme rotates participants across four areas, emphasizing direct work with senior relationship managers, financial products, credit papers, and customer relationships.
Claire Reed, PwC UK's chief technology and innovation officer, agrees that AI literacy is now a baseline requirement but insists it must be coupled with sector-specific knowledge. "AI skills on their own are not going to help you in your career," she says.
Graduates Weigh AI Specialization Against Broader Experience
Underwood acknowledges she has not yet had the chance to pitch directly to media but plans to acquire traditional PR skills. Patel remains confident that his AI work provides valuable cross-functional experience. Clinton believes progression is now based on critical thinking and process understanding rather than knowledge accumulation alone.
