AI Expert Warns of Potential Global Risks

Artificial intelligence development is proceeding rapidly, prompting both excitement and concern regarding its potential impact. A significant number of workers express apprehension about the need to adapt to AI and the potential consequences of failing to do so.

AI expert Matt Shumer has voiced strong concerns, comparing the current AI boom to the early stages of the COVID‑19 pandemic. He suggests the forthcoming changes, particularly in the labor market, will be even more substantial.

Historical Comparisons

Shumer’s essay, Something Big Is Happening, draws parallels between the current AI advancements, the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of the internet. However, he argues that this moment represents a fundamentally different shift. Previous automation waves allowed displaced workers to transition into new roles, such as office jobs following factory automation, or service and logistics positions with the growth of e‑commerce. Shumer contends that AI’s ability to target cognitive work itself may not create readily available new sectors to absorb those who are replaced.

The Scope of Potential Job Displacement

Dario Amodei, CEO of a leading AI company known for its focus on safety, predicts that approximately 50% of white-collar jobs could disappear within one to five years.

Defining White-Collar Work

The term “white-collar work” originated in the United States and describes salaried employees who perform office-based work, often involving administrative or clerical tasks. These roles typically require cognitive or organizational skills rather than manual labor, and do not necessarily require advanced degrees.