Yes, AI Is Taking Jobs, and It’s Only Going to Get Worse

The truth is stark: the age of human redundancy is here, and it’s only the beginning.

Remember when tech leaders reassured us that AI would be a tool to enhance human productivity, not a machine to replace it? Turns out, that was a comforting fairy tale. Since the proliferation of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and others, layoffs have surged, hiring freezes have spread like wildfire, and companies are finally admitting the obvious: AI is taking jobs, and it’s only going to get worse. 

The Broken Promises: AI’s Trail of Job Losses 

When AI proponents promised a future of collaboration, they left out the part where "collaboration" meant job cuts. Here’s the reality: 

• Mass Layoffs: By mid-2024, over 250,000 tech employees were laid off globally, with many companies citing AI as a key factor in reducing workforce needs. Source. 
• Direct Admissions: Companies like IBM openly stated their intention to pause hiring for roles that AI could replace, such as back-office functions, potentially impacting 7,800 jobs. Source. It’s a similar story at Google, who is moving much of it’s programming out of the hands of engineers and over to AI. Source. Both tech giants are sitting pretty financially.  
• Goldman Sachs estimated a loss of 300 million jobs due to AI. Source. Whereas the World Economic Forum put it at a much rosier 85 million jobs lost over the next five years. Source. They said those jobs would be replaced by new positions but were considerably less convincing on this particular point.
• When asked by ResumeBuilder, 37% of 750 business leaders surveyed admitted to replacing workers with the AI in 2023. But it didn't stop there, 44% predict AI-driven layoffs in 2024... see which way the trend line is pointing? Source.

Industry-Specific Hits:  

• In programming, GitHub Copilot and similar tools have reduced demand for entry-level developers. 
• Content creation is being gutted by AI writers and designers like Jasper, DALL-E, and ChatGPT. Publishers, news agencies, and ad agencies are slashing headcount, often stating bluntly that AI tools can write faster, cheaper, and—frankly—good enough. 

A New Productivity Model? 

Sure, AI has improved efficiency. A report from Accenture revealed that 40% of working hours can be automated with current AI technologies, a stat that should send shivers down the spine of anyone working in data analysis, administrative roles, or creative industries. 

But let’s not kid ourselves, efficiency isn’t the goal here. It’s cost-cutting and profits, plain and simple. 

The Corporate Greed Factor: The Rich Get Richer 

Behind the rosy promises of "increased productivity" lies a hard truth: corporate greed. As AI makes it easier for companies to cut jobs, it’s also accelerating the concentration of wealth at the top. Here’s how: 

• Profits Over People: In 2024, corporate profits in AI-enabled industries surged by 22%, even as unemployment rose in affected sectors. Source. 
• Shareholder-Driven Layoffs: Publicly traded companies are under relentless pressure to deliver returns to shareholders. Cutting jobs via AI is an easy (and inevitable) way to pad margins, regardless of the human cost. 
• A Widening Wealth Gap: Automation disproportionately benefits those who own the tools, the corporations and their shareholders, while the displaced workforce bears the brunt of job losses. This trend will only deepen economic inequality, with more wealth flowing from the bottom to the top. 

What’s the Human Cost? 

The question nobody seems to be asking enough is: What happens to the “little guy”? Displaced workers often lack the resources to retrain for higher-skilled jobs, leaving them stuck in low-paying roles, or out of work entirely.

AI, for all its potential, is reshaping our economy to serve the few at the expense of the many. 

What of the World We’re Handing to Our Children 

For today’s children, the future of work is shaping up to be anything but secure. As parents grapple with the rapid pace of change, tough questions arise: 

• What Jobs Will Exist? The roles children are preparing for today may not even exist tomorrow. Fields like programming, writing, and even law are already being reshaped by AI, leaving parents to wonder what careers will be left untouched. 
• How Can We Prepare Them? Education systems remain stuck in the industrial-age model, emphasizing rote learning and standardized testing, neither of which prepare kids for a world dominated by AI. 
• What Are We Teaching Them About Humanity? Beyond economic concerns, there’s a moral question: What values are we instilling in a world that prioritizes profits over people? As machines take over more work, are we teaching children to value creativity, empathy, and human connection, or are we passing down a legacy of disposability? 

A Bleak Inheritance 

Our younger generations are inheriting a world where stability is fleeting, and opportunity feels out of reach for all but the most privileged. Parents are left navigating a harsh reality: how to prepare their children for a future where AI threatens not just jobs, but the very concept of work. 

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The Epochal Shift: Winners and Losers 

AI isn't just another trend, it’s a tectonic shift in how work is done. And the effects of AI on the talent market will deepen as the technology evolves. Here’s what I think will happen: 

1. Winners: Companies and the Tech Elite 

• Employers leveraging AI can slash operational costs while maintaining output. 
• AI developers and tech firms like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are poised to rake in billions as they license tools that displace human workers. 
• Investors in AI firms are seeing sky-high returns, with the generative AI market expected to reach $826 billion by 2030. Source. 

2. Losers: The Workforce 

• Low-Mid-Level Jobs Are Disappearing: Roles requiring intermediate skills—think copywriters, customer support reps, and junior programmers, are the first to go. 
• Lower Barriers to Entry, Higher Competition: As AI democratizes certain skill sets, it creates a race to the bottom. Why hire a human when a machine can do the same job for a fraction of the cost? 
• Economic Inequality Widening: Workers in less automated industries (think trades or healthcare) might see job security, but for everyone else, it's a game of survival. 

3. Employer Brands Are on the Line 

Employers wielding AI to justify layoffs face an employer branding dilemma. Layoffs for efficiency aren’t a new narrative, but citing AI as the cause can (and should) spark outrage. Candidates, particularly younger ones, will rightly question whether these companies value long-term workforce development or simply see employees as expendable. Or, in other words, hollow "we care" rhetoric will become more and more laughable and the trust epidemic will significantly deepen.

Conclusion: A Reckoning Is Coming 

The promises of AI as an enabler of human productivity have been shattered by the stark reality of mass job cuts and workforce restructuring. This shift isn’t just about technology; it’s about priorities. Who benefits? Who’s left behind? And what kind of world are we leaving for the next generation? Does the proverbial little guy (on younger generation) even understand what an epocal shift we’re witnessing, or does it serve the AI cartel better if the narrative remains one of AI being here for the good of all humanity.  

And let’s not forget, all we’re talking about here is how AI is dismantling the traditional employment market. We’re not even touching upon the other ways that AI is akin to playing with fire so great that it could end the world.  

Even just focusing back on the realms of employment, the stakes couldn’t be higher. As automation continues to reshape the labour market, the challenge will be finding a way to balance efficiency with humanity—if such a balance is even possible. And if we look at where the power sits and what’s driving those people, you wouldn’t bet on the side of humanity.  

So yes, AI is taking jobs. And unless businesses and governments take a more humane view and confront this reality head-on, the worst is yet to come. 

Takeaways

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