Yoshua Bengio, a Turing Award-winning computer scientist and one of the world’s most cited AI experts, has issued a stark warning: artificial intelligence will eventually automate every human job. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Bengio argued that unless scientific progress hits an unexpected wall, AI systems will inevitably surpass human capabilities in all sectors.
The Timeline of Displacement
According to Bengio, the “AI job squeeze” is not a distant future scenario but a process that has already begun. “Cognitive jobs” performed behind keyboards are the first casualties. He highlights that Gen Z and entry-level employees are currently suffering the most, as companies like Google, IBM, and Intel freeze hiring for junior roles that software can now manage. While physical trade jobs—such as plumbing—are safer in the short term, Bengio warns this is only temporary. As companies deploy more robots and gather more physical data, manual labor will eventually face the same fate as office work.
A Scientist’s Regret and Call to Action
Bengio admitted he regrets not identifying the catastrophic risks of his life’s work sooner. His concerns extend beyond massive unemployment to the potential collapse of democracy and the physical safety of future generations. Citing fears that advanced AI systems might eventually resist being shut down, he has shifted his focus to AI safety through his nonprofit, LawZero. His message to corporate leaders is to step back from the competitive arms race and collaborate to ensure the technology remains safe for humanity.
Mentoring question
If traditional career paths in both cognitive and manual labor face eventual automation, how can you redefine your professional identity and value proposition to focus on traits that are uniquely human?