Nikesh Arora, CEO of cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks, disputed the widespread belief that artificial intelligence will automatically reduce the need for human workers. Speaking on the New York Times’ Hard Fork Podcast, Arora said it is a “fallacy” to think that increased productivity through AI means fewer employees, Business Insider reported. He further argued that while AI will improve efficiency in development and testing, companies will use the benefits to tackle long-delayed product roadmaps and business transformations, rather than simply cutting headcount. “No, I need more,” he said. “There’s a misconception that organizations will be 30, 40, 50, 60 percent more productive. So they’ll need fewer people.”This view stands in contrast to other technology leaders, such as Block’s Jack Dorsey and Cisco’s Chuck Robbins, who say AI is already reshaping staffing needs and replacing certain roles.
fill the backlog
Arora also pointed out that most engineers have “feature wish lists longer than their arm.” He feels that AI can help companies clear this backlog and create the ability to build more products and services rather than downsize teams.Also addressing the issue of AI-related attrition, Arora suggested that some companies are doing so to make room for new hires with different skill sets. “That ability allows us to hire more people and make room for the people we need with newer skill sets,” he explained.
Recruitment at Palo Alto Networks
Despite industry-wide cuts, Palo Alto Networks continues to expand. The company added 959 employees in the first two quarters of fiscal 2026, according to its latest filing. While this growth is not directly attributable to AI, Arora’s comments highlight a more optimistic view of how AI can reshape the workforce.
Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora talks about the threat of AI to software
Earlier this year, Arora also addressed the issue of AI threats to the software sector. When asked about the threat of AI automation to the software sector, Nikesh Arora said:“There are concerns that the software industry is under attack from AI. AI makes it easier and faster to build software, reducing the need for traditional software spend. This may be the case in some subsectors. If the product is purely analytical and can be easily recreated using AI, there may be disruption. If business systems can be automated by agents, there is a risk.”He also dismissed the idea that cybersecurity could be a collateral damage to the AI wave.
