IT leaders warn AI could erode vital technical skills

Australian academics and industry leaders have urged organisations to rethink how they value and support IT staff as artificial intelligence reshapes workplaces.

The calls come ahead of National IT Professionals Day, which highlights the contribution of technology workers to businesses and communities.

Commentators from Queensland University of Technology and Dropbox said many organisations rely on IT teams for critical functions such as security, governance and productivity, yet still overlook their long-term development.

They also warned that generative AI could erode core technical skills if companies treat it as a replacement for professional expertise rather than a tool that supports it.

AI and Skills Shift

Professor Gowri Ramachandran of Queensland University of Technology said the rapid adoption of AI builds on work IT professionals have carried out for decades.

"The IT industry is going through a challenging period as organisations adopt AI and, in some cases, restructure their workforces. However, it is important to remember that today's AI systems did not emerge in isolation. They are built on decades of software, data, infrastructure, research and technical knowledge created by IT professionals. National IT Professionals Day is therefore an opportunity to recognise not only the people who keep our digital systems running today, but also the enormous contribution IT professionals have made to the technologies now shaping our future," said Professor Gowri Ramachandran, Queensland University of Technology.

He contrasted earlier generations of IT workers with those now entering the field.

"Earlier generations of IT professionals built their expertise by spending hours, sometimes days, solving difficult technical problems with limited documentation and community support. That persistence helped develop the depth of technical skill and problem-solving ability we value today," Ramachandran said.

Ramachandran said the sector faces a decisive moment as generative AI becomes embedded in everyday tools and workflows.

"We are at a pivotal point in the evolution of IT. The next generation will develop very different skills from those who built their careers before generative AI, and academia and industry now have an important role in defining what technical expertise should look like in this new era," he said.

He cautioned that organisations risk trading speed for depth if they do not adjust training and expectations.

"AI is giving emerging IT professionals extraordinary capabilities from the beginning of their careers. The opportunity is significant, but we need to ensure that faster answers do not come at the expense of greater problem-solving skills, persistence and technical understanding," Ramachandran said.

Invisible Work

Professor Craig Costello, also of Queensland University of Technology, said effective IT work often remains unseen inside organisations.

"IT professionals are often most invisible when they are doing their jobs well. Reliable systems can appear effortless, but behind them are people continually managing complexity, preventing disruption and protecting the trust an organisation has built with its customers," said Professor Craig Costello, Queensland University of Technology.

He said AI would change tasks but not remove the need for human oversight.

"AI will change the work of IT professionals, but it will not eliminate the need for them. As technology becomes more capable, organisations need even more human judgement around integration, security, governance and accountability," Costello said.

He also argued that companies need stronger structures around skills and succession.

"Resilient organisations should not depend on exhausted individuals performing heroics whenever something breaks. They invest in capable teams, continuing education, good documentation and succession planning, because sustainable expertise is itself a form of infrastructure," Costello said.

Productivity Focus

Dropbox linked the role of IT teams directly to organisational productivity strategies.

A spokesperson said IT staff design and manage the systems that underpin daily work in many businesses.

"Productivity is one of the biggest priorities for organisations right now, but it's often shaped and driven by factors employees never see. Whether it's finding the right document, accessing an essential system, or collaborating across teams, there's an IT team behind the scenes making it possible. Today's IT professionals do far more than keep a company's technology infrastructure up and running. They play a vital role in implementing and managing tools designed to simplify access to knowledge, reducing the time people spend searching for information and increasing the time they spend on high-value work. IT teams also help ensure these tools are adopted effectively and at scale. On IT Professionals Day, we are using this opportunity to recognise the role IT teams play in turning technology investments into meaningful productivity gains across the organisation," said a Dropbox spokesperson.