CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

Could be a FUD article for clicks. But in my limited circle I've noticed lots of people simply... drop out. Like they get fired or quit then basically retire in their mid 30's. I don't know where these people are getting money from. Some people have kind of half-assed business ideas, like one of my buddies is designing his dream board game, another buddy is building an online wine merchant portal or something. In general I notice that the smartest people in my life have bifurcated into two camps. Half of them have retired, more or less. The other half have been afflicted with frenetic energy, trying to grasp all they can before the window closes. I dunno.

Re: CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

#5

Post by CjHuber » Thu, Jul 03, 2025, 5:25 AM UTC

That is supposed to be the quiet part?

Re: CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

#6

Post by derbOac » Thu, Jul 03, 2025, 5:25 AM UTC

"In interviews, CEOs often hedge when asked about job losses..."

True, but other CEOs often like to be dramatic and the center of attention, wanting to be seen as bold, cost cutting, and at the forefront of trends, whether or not they are accurate in anything they say.

I've been around long enough to see that boldness become a source of regret at times. If someone refers to AI slop, it's widely understood what's meant. Putting slop at the center of your company personnel strategy doesn't sound quite as appealing.

The quotes at the end of the article seem more thoughtful to me, more realistic and measured.

Re: CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

#7

Post by BLKNSLVR » Thu, Jul 03, 2025, 5:31 AM UTC

It's an easy thing to say without giving specific time frames. At least when Elon makes grand pronouncements he risks getting it horribly wrong.

"told investors in May that she could see its operations head count falling by 10% in the coming years as the company uses new AI tools."

Here's a time-frame a bit more specific then "in the coming years", but still vague:

"Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in May that half of all entry-level jobs could disappear in one to five years"

Repeating a comment I've read on HN before: Following on from cutting down entry-level jobs must imply cutting down on all those next levels up as well. Minimising the number of people coming through Gate 1 will necessarily reduce the number of people going through Gate 2 (yes, you can hire in people to go straight through Gate 2, but they'll have had to go through Gate 1 somewhere).

Re: CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

#8

Post by jmathai » Thu, Jul 03, 2025, 5:31 AM UTC

"AI won't take your job. Someone who uses AI will."

That someone is your co-worker and will soon be your co-worker's co-worker.

I don't see how the rate of job creation can come close to the rate job loss we'll see for a few years.

Re: CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

#9

Post by paulddraper » Thu, Jul 03, 2025, 5:38 AM UTC

Yes?

What do you think technological advancement does?!?

It removes work.

Now, if you say that unlike for every other time there isn’t more opportunity created…I guess you have an interesting point.

But yeah — duh.

I don’t know many assembly programmers. They’ve been “wiped out.”

Re: CEOs Start Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud: AI Will Wipe Out Jobs

#10

Post by rightbyte » Thu, Jul 03, 2025, 6:05 AM UTC

sandspar wrote: post #4

Could be a FUD article for clicks. But in my limited circle I've noticed lots of people simply... drop out. Like they get fired or quit then basically retire in their mid 30's. I don't know where these people are getting money from. Some people have kind of half-assed business ideas, like one of my buddies is designing his dream board game, another buddy is building an online wine merchant portal or something. In gen…

> I don't know where these people are getting money from

Inheritance?