Thoma Bravo’s Orlando Bravo, a prominent figure in the private equity landscape, offers a contrasting perspective on the integration of Artificial Intelligence within the workforce, particularly for junior roles. Amidst widespread apprehension regarding AI’s impact on entry-level positions, Bravo, founder of the software-centric private equity firm Thoma Bravo, asserts that AI will fundamentally reshape these roles by automating tedious tasks, thereby empowering junior associates to engage in more strategic and impactful work.
Speaking at the SuperReturn conference in Berlin, Bravo elaborated on how the increasing adoption of AI within his firm is actively redefining the responsibilities of junior associates. “Their jobs will become greater, and they’ll mature a lot quicker,” Bravo stated. He observed a significant reduction in time spent on routine tasks like financial modeling and comparable company analysis. Instead, junior team members are now deeply involved in investment operations and are developing a more comprehensive understanding of business strategy.
This shift, Bravo suggests, is not only improving the efficiency of Thoma Bravo but also enhancing the professional development and work-life balance of its junior talent. “I bother them a lot less, because at midnight I can do something really quickly with AI instead of [comparables], instead of calling them to do it in the middle of the night, which improves their life anyway, which is what they want,” he explained.
Bravo’s optimistic outlook stands in stark contrast to a growing chorus of concern about youth unemployment. Recent data from the U.K. indicates a concerning rise in young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), exceeding one million in the first four months of the year. Similar trends are observed in the U.S. and U.K. job markets, which have become increasingly competitive as companies downsize and deploy AI, leading to a contraction in entry-level opportunities.
“For young people, AI is going to be amazing, and I’m very, very upset that some people say that it’ll destroy entry-level jobs,” Bravo passionately argued. He clarified that if the definition of an associate’s role is confined to basic data entry or spreadsheet management, then AI might indeed render those specific tasks obsolete. However, he emphasized that Thoma Bravo’s associates are now dedicating more time to engaging with companies, fostering relationships with CEOs, and contributing to higher-level strategic initiatives, thereby increasing the demand for such talent.
Bravo further highlighted that this is the first time in his three-decade career in private equity that he finds himself needing to hire more staff, a direct consequence of AI augmenting rather than diminishing the scope of work.
This optimistic perspective on job creation through AI adoption is not universally shared. The past year has witnessed a significant number of AI-related layoffs, with the technology cited as a contributing factor in over 50,000 job cuts across the U.S. in 2025. Major technology firms, including Salesforce, IBM, and Microsoft, have explicitly mentioned AI as a driver for workforce reductions. Meta, for instance, announced plans to lay off approximately 10% of its workforce to manage substantial capital expenditures dedicated to AI infrastructure, which is projected to reach up to $135 billion in 2026. Similarly, Jack Dorsey’s Block recently reduced its workforce by over 4,000 employees, citing increased operational efficiency through AI-driven automation.
In response to these challenges, governments are exploring avenues to equip the younger generation with AI-relevant skills. Liz Kendall, the U.K.’s technology secretary, outlined government initiatives focused on upskilling young workers through free AI courses to bolster employment. According to Randstad, the world’s largest recruitment firm, individuals with AI proficiency can command salaries up to 25% higher than their counterparts. “We will help people through the jobs transition, we will give people the skills, we’ll redesign those entry-level jobs,” Kendall stated, emphasizing the government’s goal of upskilling ten million workers by 2030. “The truth is this: you’re more likely to get a job and get a better-paid job with AI skills, and that is why we’re putting such emphasis,” she added.
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