Fiverr CEO Warns: AI Will Take Your Job Unless You Become Exceptional

'Are We All Doomed?' The CEO of Fiverr Says AI Is Definitely Taking Your Job. Here's What to Do About It.

Kaufman advised his employees to master the latest AI tools in their fields. A McKinsey report predicts that by 2030, AI could automate 30% of U.S. work. A Goldman Sachs report found that AI could eliminate 300 million jobs globally and automate two-thirds of work in the U.S. and Europe. Now, the CEO of one of the biggest freelancing marketplaces, Fiverr, says that it doesn't matter what profession you choose -- AI is coming for your job. "It does not matter if you are a programmer, designer, product manager, data scientist, lawyer, customer support rep, salesperson, or a finance person -- AI is coming for you," Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman wrote in an internal email sent last month that warned the company's 775 employees about AI's potential to replace their jobs. He has since posted it publicly on X. Related: The CEO of $61 Billion Anthropic Says AI Will Take Over a Crucial Part of Software Engineers' Jobs Within a Year In the email, Kaufman disclosed the "unpleasant truth" that AI will soon take over roles, even his own. Tasks that were once considered "easy" will no longer be around, and difficult tasks will become the new easy. In short, AI will create an environment where mastery or "exceptional talent" is a requirement to work in a field. "If you do not become an exceptional talent at what you do, a master, you will face the need for a career change in a matter of months," Kaufman wrote, adding, "Are we doomed? Not all of us, but those who will not wake up and understand the new reality fast, are, unfortunately, doomed." In the email, Kaufman also outlined steps for someone to become exceptionally talented in their field using AI -- and save their job from being automated. Kaufman advised employees to study the latest tailored AI offerings (for programmers, he suggested Cursor, an AI code editor; for lawyers, the AI tool Legora, which helps with research and document review) and to reach out to team members who are knowledgeable about AI and learn from them. "Your value will decrease before you know what hit you" if you don't know how to use generative AI, Kaufman wrote. Related: 'Get 100X the Work Done': Shopify CEO Tells Employees to Try AI to Get Work Done Before Asking for More Human Workers Kaufman is one of many CEOs advising employees to take an AI-first approach to their work. Last week, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn publicly posted a memo he sent to employees that said the company was replacing human contract workers with AI. Meanwhile, last month, Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke publicized an internal memo he sent to employees encouraging them to turn to AI before asking for more human employees on a team. Fiverr operates as a freelancer marketplace, with sellers posting their services for sale, like design or copywriting, and buyers purchasing the services. According to Fiverr's most recent earnings report, the platform had over 3.6 million annual active buyers in 2024. It brought in $391.5 million in revenue for 2024, an 8.3% growth from 2023.

Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman delivers blunt reality check: 'AI is coming for your job, and mine - Unless you become...'

In a blunt internal email, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman warned employees that AI poses a serious threat to every job -- including his own. Urging staff to master AI tools or risk obsolescence, Kaufman's message serves as both a wake-up call and a challenge: adapt quickly, or face a career reckoning in the rapidly evolving digital age.In a jarring internal memo that feels more like a dystopian prophecy than corporate communication, Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman delivered a sobering message to his employees: adapt or be replaced. The blunt reality check, which has since surfaced across media and tech circles, underscores a growing sentiment that AI isn't just coming for entry-level tasks -- it's coming for everyone. "AI is coming for your jobs," Kaufman wrote. "Heck, it's coming for my job too." It was a wake-up call laced with candor and concern, sent not just as a warning but as a rallying cry to survive what he paints as an industry-wide upheaval. Kaufman's email did not mince words. Whether you're a programmer, designer, data scientist, lawyer, customer support rep, or even a CEO -- no position is immune. The Fiverr chief laid out a vision of the near future in which "easy tasks" disappear, "hard tasks" become basic, and what was once thought impossible becomes routine through AI. "Unless you become an exceptional talent -- a master -- you will face the need for a career change in a matter of months," he cautioned. But instead of inciting panic, Kaufman urged self-reflection and strategic reinvention. "Drink a glass of water. Scream in front of the mirror if it helps. Now relax," he advised, with unsettling calm. Then came the prescription for survival. To stay afloat, employees must immerse themselves in the evolving landscape of AI tools -- not just use them, but master them. "Become a prompt engineer," he declared. "Google is dead. LLM and GenAI are the new basics." He outlined a checklist for survival that included understanding cutting-edge AI, increasing efficiency, taking initiative, and proactively reimagining their roles. He emphasized that being passive in this new age isn't just risky -- it's professionally fatal. And for those who found his tone too stark? Kaufman doubled down. "If you think I'm full of it... disregard this message," he wrote. "But I honestly don't think that a promising professional future awaits you if you disregard reality." The email ends not with threats but with an open invitation. Kaufman encouraged employees who resonate with his vision to sit down with him and discuss the company's future. He offered his time and support to those who choose to confront the challenge head-on. "This is food for thought," he concluded. "We have a magnificent company and a bright future ahead. But it won't be pretty or easy. It will be hard and demanding -- but damn well worth it." In an era where executives often soften bad news with buzzwords and corporate jargon, Kaufman's approach stands out for its raw honesty. It may feel extreme to some, but for many, it reflects an undeniable truth: AI is reshaping industries faster than most people are prepared for. And in the Fiverr CEO's own words, those who ignore the signs may soon be "doomed" -- not just in their company, but in their entire careers.