- According to Jim Farley, “AI will leave many white-collar workers behind.”
- Ford’s boss also warned about the threat posed by Chinese automakers.
- Recent poll shows a third of Americans recommend trade school over a degree.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant promise or tech-world curiosity, as it’s already reshaping some of the world’s biggest industries. While it may streamline our work and enhance efficiency, it’s also set to displace a significant number of jobs.
Ford chief executive Jim Farley recently suggested that AI could replace up to half of all white-collar workers in the United States. If that includes your line of work, it may be time to take notice.
Read: Jim Farley – “If We Lose This, We Do Not Have A Future Ford”
Farley, speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival, emphasized AI’s potential to boost productivity. But he also made it clear that the technology won’t lift all boats. “AI will leave many white-collar workers behind,” he warned. For millions in offices across the country, the idea of being replaced by a machine is becoming less theoretical by the day.
AI Is Coming For You Job
“Artificial intelligence will literally replace half of all white-collar workers in the US,” Farley added. While he didn’t specify when this could occur nor cite where he got this information from, he noted that, according to a new poll, one-third of Americans would now recommend trade school over a traditional four-year college degree. After all, you can’t get AI to put up new power lines, build a new factory, or lay water pipes. Not until humanoid robots become mainstream, anyway.
The World Economic Forum estimates that approximately 40 percent of skills available to employees could become obsolete within five years, noting that office and secretarial workers, accountants, cashiers, and postal workers are at particular risk of losing their current jobs and being replaced by AI.
It’s not just Ford that knows jobs will be lost due to AI. Speaking at the same event, Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy said he would replace workers with AI. Additionally, Salesforce boss Marc Benioff says 30-50 percent of work at the company is being done by AI, reports Spiegel.
Pressure from Abroad
Farley also used his Aspen appearance to talk about another looming challenge: competition from Chinese automakers. He praised their in-vehicle tech as being “far superior” and said the overall quality of Chinese vehicles surpasses what he’s seeing in the West. That kind of assessment from a Detroit CEO is rare, not to mention, telling.
It all points to a period of rapid change, not just in how we work, but in who (or what) does the work. What comes next remains uncertain, but the direction is clear, and the pace isn’t slowing.
