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AI Job Impact: Real Displacement or Layoff Excuse?
19 Feb
Summary
- OpenAI CEO notes some companies blame AI for planned layoffs.
- Real job displacement by AI is expected to increase soon.
- New AI jobs will be created but won't offset all losses.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that the genuine effects of artificial intelligence on employment will become noticeable within the next few years. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, Altman suggested that some businesses are attributing job cuts to AI, when these reductions were already planned.
This practice, referred to as 'AI washing,' involves companies overstating AI's role in business decisions. While new job categories are expected to emerge, Altman emphasized that AI's direct displacement of existing roles will grow. Companies like Amazon, IBM, Salesforce, and HP have cited AI amid workforce reductions, though evidence of 'AI washing' at these specific firms is absent.
Concerns about AI's impact on jobs are shared by other industry leaders. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei previously warned of AI potentially eliminating half of entry-level white-collar positions within five years. Similarly, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis indicated that AI is already contributing to a hiring slowdown for junior positions at his company.
