“We all know generative AI will destroy certain jobs and will create new jobs.”
Context
HSBC chief executive Georges Elhedery made the comment at an investor event as the bank discussed its use of artificial intelligence across the business.
HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services groups, has more than 200,000 employees and has appointed its first chief artificial intelligence officer as it expands the use of the technology.
Elhedery urged staff not to resist the changes, saying his priority was to ensure employees had the training, tools and capabilities to become “future ready”.
Meaning
Elhedery’s comment captures the increasingly direct language now being used by senior executives about the effect of artificial intelligence on employment.
Rather than presenting AI only as a productivity tool, the quote accepts that some roles will disappear while others will be created. That makes it more candid than many corporate statements, but also more unsettling for workers whose jobs may be exposed to automation.
Implications
The comment raises questions for HR leaders about how employers prepare staff for AI-driven restructuring before jobs are redesigned or removed.
Retraining and redeployment may become central to workforce planning, particularly in large organisations where automation is likely to affect back-office, operational and customer-service roles. But the quote also shows why communication matters. If workers are told jobs will be destroyed, they will expect clear answers on which roles are at risk, what support is available and how decisions will be made.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
