Box Plans to Hire More Workers as It Builds Out A.I. Operations
Box, a Silicon Valley software company, is adding staff rather than cutting it as artificial intelligence reshapes its business. The data management firm plans to grow to more than 3,000 employees by early next year, up from 2,900 at the start of 2026.
The company has created 13 new job categories tied to A.I. in recent months, including roles like A.I. architect, A.I. solutions manager, and A.I. platform leader. Aaron Levie, Box's chief executive, said the expansion stems from two forces: selling A.I. products to customers and using A.I. internally to boost productivity.
"We ourselves are selling A.I. to our customers, so that's actually causing us to need to hire more people," Levie said. "And as a user of A.I., we're getting new forms of productivity that's also causing us to hire people."
How Box Adapted Its Workforce
Four years ago, as A.I. began affecting the business, Box wove the technology into its product line. The company now sells A.I. tools designed to automate tasks like reviewing and approving contracts.
Internally, Box asked employees to step back from their regular work to help colleagues adopt A.I. tools. That need led to positions like senior director of A.I., data and integration, which focuses on connecting internal systems and data so workers can use A.I. more effectively.
A Different Path From Tech Industry Peers
Box's hiring strategy contrasts with decisions made by other major tech companies. Meta and Coinbase have cut staff while citing A.I. as a reason, citing productivity gains and the technology's ability to generate code and written answers.
Concerns about job displacement remain widespread. Many workers worry that A.I. will replace employees in fields like computer programming and engineering management.
Box's experience suggests a different outcome is possible when companies treat A.I. as a tool that creates new work rather than simply eliminates existing roles. For managers overseeing A.I. adoption, understanding how to structure teams around new capabilities may matter as much as the technology itself. Learn more about AI for Management and how to guide your organization through similar transitions.
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