One of the key questions in the IT market in 2026 is this: if a junior with AI completes tasks almost as quickly as a senior, and an inexperienced analyst gets ready-made SQL and a polished dashboard from the model, then why pay for experience? There is a well-supported rationale for this question. In a study of 5,172 support employees, an AI assistant increased productivity by an average of 15%; less experienced employees gained in both speed and quality,