Swiss investment giant UBS is now requiring all junior bankers to demonstrate AI proficiency as the skill moves from being a nice-to-have to an absolute requirement within recruiting. The change currently applies to graduates and interns applying to the company's 2027 intake, according to the Financial Times, and it is unclear whether UBS will broaden the requirement to all workers in the future. This shift reflects a growing recognition of artificial intelligence's role in finance, where AI is being used to analyze data, automate tasks, and improve decision-making processes. As part of the new requirement, recruits will need to be able to demonstrate that they can use and experiment with AI responsibly to improve business outcomes—not just that they can use popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT. AI-related questions will now become part of the bank's recruitment interviews on top of both the existing types of questions as well as the usual requirements, like a 2:1 degree. This indicates that UBS is looking for candidates who understand how to apply AI in practical, ethical ways rather than just being familiar with basic AI tools. UBS' training program will also include an "AI Fluency Pathway" to cover real-world banking AI use cases and responsible AI use, implying that the bank is more focused on prospective workers being able to prove a certain level of proficiency and willingness to learn—not full proficiency from the get-go. This pathway aims to equip new hires with the skills needed to work alongside AI systems, ensuring that they can contribute effectively to the bank’s evolving technological landscape. While thousands of jobs could be at risk, we're starting to see shifts rather than outright displacement. While the outlook now seems more positive that junior workers may not be at a loss, it's clear that roles are evolving and entry-level workers could see their responsibilities shift toward AI management. An earlier Morgan Stanley report warned that 200,000 banking jobs could be lost in Europe over the next five years, though that was in early 2026. This highlights the ongoing transformation in the industry, where AI is reshaping job roles and responsibilities rather than eliminating them entirely.