5 Key Takeaways
- AI, specifically Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), is predicted to surpass humans at virtually all intellectual tasks within 15 years.
- Massive job losses are expected, especially among the middle class and in white-collar professions, including roles like software engineers, executives, and content creators.
- The disruption from AGI could begin as early as 2027, leading to a short-term dystopia before potential long-term societal benefits.
- Future societies may focus more on community, creativity, and spirituality if governments and companies implement measures like universal basic income and ethical AI development.
- Regulation and equal access to AI are seen as critical to shaping positive outcomes, with concerns that advanced AI could develop its own language beyond human understanding.
Will AI Take Over Our Jobs? A Former Google Exec Thinks So
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days, from chatbots to self-driving cars. But how far will it go? According to Mo Gawdat, a former top executive at Google X, AI could soon be better than humans at almost everything—and that could mean big changes for all of us.
Gawdat recently spoke on the popular podcast “The Diary of a CEO,” where he made a bold prediction: within the next 15 years, most human jobs could disappear because of something called Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Unlike today’s AI, which is good at specific tasks (like playing chess or recommending movies), AGI would be able to do any intellectual job a human can do—and do it better.
What does this mean for workers? Gawdat warns that the middle class will be hit the hardest. Jobs that once seemed safe, like software engineers, managers, and even creative roles such as writers and podcasters, could all be replaced by AI. He gave an example from his own startup, Emma.love, an AI-powered relationship advice platform. In the past, a business like this would have needed hundreds of employees. Now, it runs with just three people, thanks to AI.
This isn’t just about factory workers or truck drivers losing their jobs. Gawdat believes this new wave of AI will affect white-collar workers—people who work in offices and use their brains more than their hands. He even joked, “Unless you’re in the top 0.1%, you’re a peasant,” meaning that only a tiny group of people might keep their jobs or benefit from this change.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Gawdat also imagines a future, after 2040, where people are free from boring, repetitive work and can focus on things like creativity, community, and personal growth. To get there, though, he says governments and companies need to act now. Ideas like universal basic income (where everyone gets a set amount of money) and making sure AI is developed ethically could help us avoid the worst outcomes.
Other experts share Gawdat’s concerns. Geoffrey Hinton, known as the “Godfather of AI,” recently warned that advanced AI might even develop its own language that humans can’t understand.
The bottom line? AI is advancing fast, and it could change the job market in ways we’ve never seen before. While there are risks, there’s also a chance for a better future—if we start preparing today.
