AI Is Shrinking Big Companies — Here’s What It Means for Your Career After College

If you’re a student-athlete thinking about life after college, here’s something to consider: the world of work is changing faster than a fast break in basketball, and AI is at the center of it. CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world are now openly saying they don’t need as many employees as they once did.

Take Amazon. In June, CEO Andy Jassy told his 350,000 corporate employees that AI would soon allow the company to operate with fewer people. JPMorgan, Klarna, Ford — all have said similar things. AI is now doing tasks that once required whole teams of human workers. For startups, it’s even more extreme: some founders are building companies that could hit a billion dollars in revenue with only a handful of employees.

So why should this matter to you as a student-athlete? The traditional path after college — landing a full-time job at a big, established company, learning the ropes, moving up the ladder — might be harder to rely on. Big companies are hiring less and doing more with smaller teams. That means fewer entry-level roles and potentially shorter career paths inside one company.

On the flip side, smaller teams and leaner companies can mean more opportunities to take initiative, try different roles, and make a bigger impact from day one. Instead of being a small cog in a giant machine, you could be running plays that actually change the outcome for the company — just like you do on the field.

History shows us something important: big companies once needed massive workforces to coordinate large, complex operations. Over time, technology like AI and computers started trimming that need. Today, it’s happening even faster. A study of Microsoft roles found that up to a third of current tasks could be handled by AI in the near future. And that’s just one company.

But there’s hope. AI isn’t just cutting jobs — it’s creating new ways to build businesses. If you dream of launching a startup or working for an innovative small company, AI makes it possible to accomplish more with fewer people. That could mean more freedom, faster career growth, and a chance to learn multiple skills in a short time.

Still, it’s a shift you need to be ready for. You might need to take more initiative in finding opportunities, build a broader skill set, and be comfortable moving between companies to grow your career. And just like sports, the best players — those who train, adapt, and strategize — are the ones who succeed in this new world of work.

Bottom line: The corporate game is changing. Big rosters are shrinking, AI is taking on tasks, and the path to success may not be the traditional one you expected. But if you approach it like you do athletics — with focus, adaptability, and a willingness to step up — there’s still plenty of opportunity to win.