Artificial intelligence will not wipe out tech jobs and could harm the economy if people shy away from computing careers due to exaggerated fears, warned Eben Upton, co-founder of the low-cost computer company Raspberry Pi.

Upton, also a chip designer at Broadcom, said recent warnings about AI’s job-destroying potential are overblown. He pointed to AI’s role in automating repetitive tasks, freeing workers to focus on higher-value problem-solving. “The narrative that AI will eliminate lots of jobs is not supported by the evidence,” Upton told the BBC. “What we’re seeing is AI taking over mundane tasks, not replacing entire roles.”

AI’s real impact on tech jobs

The tech industry has long debated AI’s effect on employment. Studies show AI boosts productivity by handling data processing, customer queries, and basic coding. Upton argued this shift could make tech jobs more appealing by removing tedious work. “If AI takes care of the boring stuff, people can do more interesting things,” he said. “That should attract more people to tech, not scare them away.”

Critics argue AI will still displace some workers, particularly in coding and software development. However, Upton countered that demand for tech skills is rising faster than AI can replace human expertise. The UK tech sector alone faces 600,000 unfilled roles by 2025, according to Tech Nation. He warned that fearmongering about AI could deter students from pursuing computing, worsening the skills shortage.

Economic risks of job scare tactics

Upton highlighted a paradox: while AI tools like GitHub Copilot assist developers, headlines about job losses create uncertainty. Young people may avoid tech degrees or careers, believing roles are at risk. “If you tell 16-year-olds AI will replace programmers, they’ll think twice about studying computer science,” he said. “That’s the last thing the economy needs.”

The Raspberry Pi founder also stressed that AI adoption requires human oversight. Systems still need engineers to train, maintain, and improve them. “AI isn’t a replacement for human intelligence—it’s a tool,” Upton added. “The more we use it, the more we’ll need people who understand how it works.”

What happens next

Upton called for balanced reporting on AI’s job impact. Governments and educators should emphasize AI’s collaborative potential with human workers. “We need to show how AI makes jobs better, not scare people into avoiding them,” he said. Raspberry Pi, which sells affordable computers to teach coding, plans to expand its educational programs to counter misinformation.

For now, the tech job market remains strong. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects software developer jobs will grow 22% by 2030. Upton’s warning serves as a reminder: fear of AI could do more harm than AI itself. The real challenge isn’t job loss—it’s ensuring workers have the skills to thrive alongside AI tools.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: BBC News
  • Published: May 14, 2026 at 23:01 UTC
  • Category: Business
  • Topics: #bbc · #business · #economy · #machine-learning · #raspberry

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 14, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A inteligência artificial não vai varrer empregos do mercado como um rolo compressor, ao menos não no ritmo que muitos temem — e é justamente essa a advertência de Eben Upton, fundador da Raspberry Pi, empresa que democratizou o acesso à computação com dispositivos acessíveis. Em meio ao burburinho sobre demissões em massa por causa da IA, Upton surge como uma voz contrária, defendendo que o pessimismo exagerado pode, na verdade, atrapalhar o crescimento econômico e a inovação no setor tecnológico.

Para o Brasil, onde a pauta da transformação digital ganha cada vez mais força — especialmente em setores como agronegócio, serviços e manufatura —, as declarações de Upton soam como um alento. O país tem enfrentado desafios para formar mão de obra qualificada em tecnologia, e o medo de que a automação dizime postos de trabalho pode frear investimentos em capacitação e políticas públicas. Upton argumenta que, assim como ocorreu com revoluções tecnológicas anteriores, a IA tende a criar mais empregos do que destruir, desde que haja preparação adequada. Nesse sentido, a discussão transcende o alarmismo e chega ao cerne da necessidade de políticas públicas que incentivem a requalificação profissional e a adaptação dos trabalhadores às novas demandas do mercado.

Ainda assim, o alerta permanece: se o Brasil e outros países não agirem rápido para integrar IA de forma estratégica, o risco não é a máquina substituir o homem, mas sim o país ficar para trás na próxima onda de produtividade global.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El fundador de Raspberry Pi, Eben Upton, ha salido al paso de los temores generalizados sobre el impacto de la inteligencia artificial en el empleo tecnológico, asegurando que las predicciones catastrofistas están distorsionadas y podrían tener consecuencias negativas en la economía global.

Upton, cuya empresa ha sido un referente en la democratización de la programación y la innovación tecnológica, argumenta que, lejos de destruir puestos de trabajo, la IA está reconfigurando el mercado laboral y creando nuevas oportunidades en sectores como la ciberseguridad, el desarrollo de software y la gestión de datos. Su advertencia apunta a que el alarmismo actual podría desincentivar la inversión en formación tecnológica y frenar el crecimiento del sector, clave para la productividad y la competitividad a largo plazo. Además, subraya que la adaptación a estas herramientas será fundamental para que los profesionales hispanohablantes —y no solo los anglosajones— no queden relegados en un entorno laboral cada vez más digitalizado.