PwC, one of the world's biggest consultancy firms, plans to increase the number of graduates it takes on next year, its UK boss has told the BBC, brushing aside concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) was undermining hiring at the firm. Marco Amitrano said PwC had cut back on new graduate roles last year due to the flagging economy, not AI. In his experience new recruits came into the firm keen to be in the office and "hungry" to pursue a career, he said. Young people have been hardest hit by the recent rise in unemployment, prompting some to question the value of taking on large debts to obtain a degree. However Amitrano defended the idea of university study for the "life skills" it offers. Younger workers have been characterised as a less resilient, "snowflake" generation, but Amitrano said new hires to PwC, one of the UK's biggest graduate recruiters, had struck him as eager to learn and earn well.…