Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday from the CES conference in Las Vegas, Su made it clear that AI is not shrinking AMD’s workforce. Instead, it is redefining the skills that matter most.
Hiring is growing, but priorities are shifting
“We’re actually not hiring fewer people,” Su told CNBC, adding that AMD is growing rapidly and continues to recruit at scale. The key change, she explained, lies in the profile of candidates being selected. According to Su, AMD is now prioritising professionals who are comfortable working with AI and understand how to integrate it into everyday workflows.
The focus, she said, is on hiring people who are AI forward, reflecting how deeply the technology is being embedded across the company’s operations.
Why AMD sits at the centre of the AI boom
AMD plays a crucial role in the global AI ecosystem. The company designs graphics processing units, or GPUs, that are used to train artificial intelligence models and run large scale AI workloads. This places AMD in direct competition with Nvidia, which currently dominates the AI chip market with more than 90 percent market share, according to some estimates.
As AI demand accelerates, AMD has been incorporating the technology into how it designs, builds, manufactures and tests its chips. Su said this internal shift has made AI fluency an essential skill rather than a niche advantage.
AI as a productivity multiplier, not a job killer
Addressing broader concerns about automation, Su pushed back against the idea that AI replaces human roles. In her CNBC interview, she described AI as a tool that expands what employees can do, rather than eliminating the need for them.“AI is augmenting our capabilities,” she said, explaining that the technology boosts productivity and allows teams to develop more products simultaneously. The emphasis, she stressed, is on collaboration between humans and machines.
According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, AMD employed around 28,000 people globally as of December 2024. That number reflects steady expansion as the company strengthens its position in high performance computing and artificial intelligence.
Under Su’s leadership, AMD has undergone a dramatic transformation. Since she took over as CEO in 2014, the company’s market value has surged from roughly $2 billion to over $380 billion by 2026, making it one of the most successful turnarounds in modern tech history.
