AI may not be welcomed at college graduations this spring, but it is reshaping the workplaces that the 2026 generation is entering.
Until recently, employers typically taught new employees the ropes by assigning them basic, and often routine, tasks. But with AI tools like ChatGPT able to handle much of that work at breakneck speed, some companies are giving entry-level hires more responsibility from the start.
“AI is changing the entry-level experience for an entire generation of white-collar workers,” Peter Cappelli, a management professor and director of the Human Resources Center at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, previously told Business Insider.
In light of these changes, we asked career gurus to share their best advice for giving newcomers to the workplace a strong start.
Here’s what they had to say:
Shadow AI is prohibited
Uncle Ben from Spider-Man wasn’t talking about AI when he said that with great power comes great responsibility. But this iconic phrase still applies.
Because AI is a powerful technology, workers must strictly follow their employer’s safety protocols when using it, said Chris Lyon, head of engineering at Twilio, a communications infrastructure platform.
He recommends using approved AI tools rather than working on so-called shadow AI, as sensitive company information can end up outside the company’s guardrails.
“We have to be especially careful,” he said.
Avoid relying too much on AI
You may want to leverage AI in every aspect of your work. But taken too far, it can weaken your ability to problem-solve and think creatively, warns Jeff LeBlanc, a business lecturer at Bentley University.
“If every email, every idea, every decision is filtered by AI, there is a risk that people will not be able to fully develop their own instincts,” he said. “Early career growth should include uncertainty, mistakes, and figuring things out. It’s that discomfort that can build confidence.”
Become skeptical of AI
Matthew Bidwell, a management professor at Wharton, said AI is like a “volatile colleague,” sometimes good but sometimes catastrophically wrong.
“We want to make sure the output passes the odor test,” he said. “I can’t believe everything I get from them.”
Dr. Andrea Derler, principal scientist at Visier, a workforce intelligence company, says this is important because taking AI slop to your boss can breed resentment. Senior employees who started their careers in menial jobs don’t want junior employees cleaning up careless AI-generated content, she says.
don’t hide behind the screen
With AI at your disposal, you may think it’s inappropriate to ask your superiors for help in understanding your challenges.
But Heba Youssef, chief human resources officer at media company Workweek and host of the HR podcast I Hate It Here, said, “Asking questions like why a task is important and what success looks like is actually a smart move because it shows critical thinking.”
Even if you don’t need support, it’s smart to build relationships with more experienced colleagues, says Rebecca Port, chief human resources officer at Okta, an identity management company. Chatbots won’t help you navigate office politics. Performance is important, but relationships can also influence whether you get a promotion or a bonus.
“Organizations are social organisms, whether we like it or not,” she said.
reliable
The workplace is not as forgiving as the classroom. Dr. Dahler said repeatedly showing up late, dressing inappropriately, missing deadlines and making other mistakes can damage a career.
She explained that authenticity is a “hidden expectation” that is essential to getting an employer to trust you enough and stay by your side.
“If I say I’m going to do something by 5 a.m. tomorrow, then I want it done by 5 a.m. tomorrow,” she said. “Don’t try to negotiate a timeline two minutes before the deadline.”