Dario Amodei, CEO of AI firm Anthropic, warns that in just 1–5 years, artificial intelligence could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs across sectors like tech, finance, law, and consulting—potentially pushing unemployment as high as 10–20%. This stark projection comes as advanced AI models like Anthropic's Claude 4 begin taking on tasks traditionally handled by junior employees.
While AI offers enormous potential—curing diseases, accelerating innovation, driving growth—it also presents serious risks if left unchecked. Amodei argues that both governments and businesses are underestimating the scale of the disruption. The concern? That AI will shift from supporting employees to replacing them—especially at the entry level—widening inequality in the process.
That’s a wake-up call. If we don’t plan ahead, we risk long-term economic and social fallout.
A recent report from venture capital firm SignalFire shows that Big Tech hiring of new grads is down 50% from pre-pandemic levels, partly due to AI. Major firms have also cut hundreds of thousands of jobs in pursuit of efficiency.
In 2024, early-career hires made up just 7% of total hiring in Big Tech—a 25% drop from 2023. And many entry-level tasks are now fully automated, with AI doing what interns and new grads used to do. Some analysts predict that 50–60% of all jobs could be fully automated within the next 20 years.
I'd be really interested to hear how AI is showing up in your workplace—whether you're leading a team or just trying to keep up with the changes:
Has your company started using AI to perform tasks that were once handled by entry-level staff?
Have you made or seen any roles or responsibilities reduced—or eliminated—because of AI?
Is AI helping you do more with less, or is it creating tension or uncertainty within your team?
Do you think there should be clearer guidelines or regulations around AI adoption in the workplace?
What’s your perspective on the idea of a “token tax” on revenue generated by AI companies?
