Raspberry Pi founder warns AI hype could worsen tech skill shortages and hurt the economy

AI could put people off tech jobs and hurt the economy, warns Raspberry Pi boss

The founder of British computer maker Raspberry Pi has warned that overestimating the abilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) could put people off pursuing tech jobs and hurt the economy. Eben Upton told the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast this could "distort people's choices in ways that make that skill shortage worse and not better". Some people are "very inclined to overestimate what these [AI] tools can do," he said, and warned against claims that it would destroy vast numbers of computing roles over the coming years. The rise of tools such as ChatGPT and Claude have led to predictions of huge job losses, particularly for tech workers and graduates. Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have already blamed tens of thousands of layoffs on AI over the last year. But some experts have suggested the technology is being used as a scapegoat for reducing headcount after a post-Covid hiring spree by many big corporates. Overestimating chatbots' ability to replace people could "undo a lot of the good work that's been done, not just by Raspberry Pi, but by a lot of other organisations" in encouraging people into tech careers, Upton said. He added: "It's possible to get caught up in this. This is the risk of damage right in this moment of incredible enthusiasm for what are genuinely incredible tools." "You read in the paper: 'What guidance should you give your child about what GCSEs to choose in the context of an AI future?' We have no data to inform a rational decision on that. "The answer is: wait five years, wait 10 years, and then maybe we might know something." Asked if the phenomenon could damage economic growth, he added: "Absolutely. We need a supply of engineers." Raspberry Pi's devices are the most widely sold computers by a UK firm and are popular with people who do programming as a hobby. Upton founded the company in 2012 because he was concerned young people were no longer getting computing skills because mobile phones and games consoles were replacing devices that they easily programme. Raspberry Pi floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2024 and has become a success story for the UK stock market amid a swathe of other firms snubbing it for a listing in the US, including Cambridge-based chip maker Arm. Upton said that while the UK had "enormous" industrial capacity, he admitted that high energy costs are "a challenge" for firms. Britain has had among highest energy costs of the G7 nations in recent years, which has proved damaging for businesses. "About the only reason I wouldn't do engineering build objects in the UK is the high cost of energy, and we need to do something about that," Upton said. "We're extremely lucky we're not running a fertiliser factory or an oil refinery." "The cost of energy in the home has an impact on your labour cost. You have to pay people enough money to live."

Raspberry Pi founder warns replacing people with AI could 'distort people's choices in ways that make that skill shortage worse and not better'

* Eben Upton says AI could put young people off tech jobs * This could hurt the economy due to a shortage of engineers * Some are overhyping the capabilities of AI tools and technology Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton has warned AI is making people less likely to pursue tech jobs, and could therefore hurt the economy of the future. Speaking to the BBC's Big Boss Interview podcast, Upton said that the technology could "distort people's choices in ways that make that skill shortage worse and not better." Tech layoffs have surpassed 100,000 in 2026 so far, with many attributed to companies' usage of AI. AI is putting people off tech jobs Upton added there is a level of overestimation of what AI chatbots can do, adding that this could "undo a lot of the good work that's been done, not just by Raspberry Pi, but by a lot of other organisations." Upton founded Raspberry Pi in 2012 in order to provide an engaging way for young people to get involved in computing and programming. Those who have built a foundational level of understanding for a tech role during their education who would then expect to further their knowledge in a place of work have found that the positions they would typically apply for are shrinking. The work that a decade ago would have been done by an entry level employee is instead handed off to an AI tool instead. This in turn creates a self-feeding problem: how do you replace senior staff members that retire or move jobs if there isn't a pool of talent to pick from? Upton added his concern for parents worried about the direction their children's education could take. "You read in the paper: 'What guidance should you give your child about what GCSEs to choose in the context of an AI future?' We have no data to inform a rational decision on that." "The answer is: wait five years, wait 10 years, and then maybe we might know something," Upton added. When asked if these problems could hurt the economy, Upton responded, "Absolutely. We need a supply of engineers." Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.