IBM CEO, Arvind Krishna, has stated in an interview with Bloomberg News that the company expects to pause hiring for some roles as approximately 7,800 jobs could be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) in the coming years. Krishna said that hiring for back-office functions, such as human resources, will be slowed or suspended, and that 30% of non-customer-facing roles could be replaced by AI and automation within the next five years. The move comes as AI and automation are being increasingly adopted by businesses around the world. It is not clear if the reduction in hiring will include not replacing roles that become vacant through attrition. IBM did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment.