Ex-Google Exec Warns: AI Will Displace Jobs Across All Levels, Including CEOs

Ex-Google exec: The idea that AI will create new jobs is '100% crap' -- even CEOs are at risk of displacement

Mo Gawdat speaks at BoF VOICES 2022 at Soho Farmhouse on November 29, 2022 in Chipping Norton, England. Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer at Google X, the company's innovation lab, says AI is likely coming for your role -- whether you're in the C-suite or an entry-level worker. The idea that artificial intelligence will create jobs is "100% crap," Gawdat said Monday on the "Diary of a CEO" podcast, using his own AI startup, Emma.love, as an example. He and two other software experts built the app with the help of AI, a project that would have required "350 developers in the past," he said. Gawdat has worked in tech for over 30 years. He was in the C-suite at Google X for almost five years tackling major problems facing humanity, like energy, climate change and internet access. Even the jobs you may think require humans will be eliminated, including video editors, podcasters and executives, said Gawdat. Bill Gates has predicted that doctors and teachers will also be replaced in the coming years. Those who have the most promising outlook are professionals who are the best at their jobs, said Gawdat, author of "Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World." But even they won't be safe forever. Artificial general intelligence is "going to be better than humans at everything, including being a CEO," said Gawdat. "There will be a time where most incompetent CEOs will be replaced."

AI is gutting workforces -- and an ex-Google exec says CEOs are too busy 'celebrating' their efficiency gains to see they're next

Tech titans keep insisting that AI will usher in a "golden era" of humanity, where all illness is cured, people live in abundance, and workers have "superhuman" powers. But a former Google executive has slammed the notion that the technology won't be a job-killer and will actually create new work for humans. "My belief is it is 100% crap," Mo Gawdat, the former chief business officer for Google X, recently said on The Diary of a CEO podcast. "The best at any job will remain. The best software developer, the one that really knows architecture, knows technology, and so on will stay -- for a while." Gawdat has joined the cohort of leaders waving the red flag that AI will commence a jobs armageddon within the next 5 to 15 years. Companies including Duolingo, Workday, and Klarna have already laid off staffers in droves or stopped hiring humans altogether to get ready for an AI-centric workforce. But executives shouldn't celebrate their efficiency gains too soon -- their role is also on the chopping block, Gawdat, who worked in tech for 30 years and now writes books on AI development, cautioned. "CEOs are celebrating that they can now get rid of people and have productivity gains and cost reductions because AI can do that job. The one thing they don't think of is AI will replace them too," Gawdat continued. "AGI is going to be better at everything than humans, including being a CEO. You really have to imagine that there will be a time where most incompetent CEOs will be replaced." While the vision of human-less companies solely run by robots is incredibly dystopian, the ex-Google executive isn't afraid of what lies ahead. The 58-year-old doesn't see AI being the perpetrator of job loss -- money-hungry CEOs are actually to blame for letting the technology take over in the pursuit of financial gain, he claimed. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with AI -- there's a lot wrong with the value set of humanity at the age of the rise of the machines," Gawdat said. "And the biggest value set of humanity is capitalism today. And capitalism is all about what? Labor arbitrage." Fortune reached out to Gawdat for comment. AI is already outpacing humans when it comes to some abilities -- it can code, resolve customer requests, handle administrative work, and even analyze market figures. There's no telling where its future capabilities lie. He said that since harmful leaders will use the tech to "magnify the evil that man can do," technology will make for more moral world leaders -- and that this dystopian scenario of AI-enabled politicians is "unavoidable". "The only way for us to get to a better place, is for the evil people at the top to be replaced with AI," Gawdat continued on the podcast. "[World leaders] will have to replace themselves [with] AI. Otherwise, they lose their advantage." Gawdat isn't the only one sounding alarm bells over AI's impact on humanity's future. Altman and Google chief Sundar Pichai have both expressed a need for AI regulation -- whether that be "major governments" drawing a line in the sand, or creating a high-level governance body to oversee potential harm. "We are likely to eventually need something like an IAEA for superintelligence efforts," Altman wrote in a 2023 blogpost, adding that AI projects should have to confront an "international authority that can inspect systems, require audits, test for compliance with safety standards, place restrictions on degrees of deployment and levels of security."

Former Google Exec Warns That If You Have a Good Job Now, You Should Be Very Concerned

As CEOs continue to boast about laying off thousands while spending tens of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure, some execs are worried about getting the axe themselves. During a podcast appearance this week, Google's former chief business officer, Mo Gawdat, warned that AI could be poised to wipe out white-collar jobs, including cushy gigs like software developers and CEOs. Unsurprisingly, Gawdat had his own AI startup to plug as well, a three-person operation dedicated to providing a Replika-like "AI girlfriend" service. "That startup would have been 350 developers in the past," the former Google exec boasted on a recent episode of the "Diary of a CEO" podcast, as spotted by Business Insider. "As a matter of fact, podcaster is going to be replaced." Gawdat is far from the first to suggest that high-ranking business executives could soon be out of a job due to AI automation. Experts have previously argued that the majority of a CEO's tasks could be done by an AI. But before an AI can fire them, company leaders are caught up in a race to lay off as many human workers as possible to cut costs in favor of AI, an endeavor that has even become a warped source of public bragging rights. Gawdat's perspective reflects the industry's insatiable appetite for an ever-cheaper AI-driven future. During his podcast appearance, he warned that a superior AI in the form of an "artificial general intelligence" could soon result in huge swathes of jobs becoming obsolete overnight. "AGI is going to get better at everything than humans -- at everything, including being a CEO," he said, as quoted by BI. "The one thing they don't think of is AI will replace them, too." Gawdat warned of a "short-term dystopia," which will allegedly kick off around the year 2027, marked by everybody losing their jobs, and the crumbling of economic structures. But the potential is there, he said, for a utopian alternative filled with "laughter and joy... free healthcare, no jobs, and spending more time with their loved ones." Naturally, especially given his personal investments in the space, we should take Gawdat's comments with an enormous grain of salt. Companies are continuing to pour astronomical sums of money into building out infrastructure to train and run incredibly resource-intensive AI models, despite so far failing to deliver on the huge financial returns their leadership has promised. And some early attempts to automate entire jobs have already started backfiring, forcing companies to go back to the drawing board and admit that paying humans wages is a necessary evil. Experts remain notably divided on how it will all play out. Some say menial labor is more likely to give way to AI, while others, including Gawdat and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, suggest that the days of cushy desk jobs could already be numbered. As to whether either of those options is a desirable outcome? Debatable.

Ex-Google executive predicts a dystopian job apocalypse by 2027: 'AI will be better than humans at everything... even CEOs'

Mo Gawdat predicts AGI will surpass human capabilities, potentially replacing even CEOs. He dismisses the notion of AI creating jobs. Gawdat envisions a future with universal basic income. He warns of a dystopian period by 2027 due to mass unemployment. Tech leaders have divided opinions on AI's impact. Gawdat fears AI could worsen inequality. In a thought-provoking episode of the "Diary of a CEO" podcast, former Google X executive Mo Gawdat delivered a powerful prediction that's turning heads across industries: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will not just challenge white-collar work -- it could soon replace many of its top decision-makers, including CEOs. Gawdat, who previously served as the chief business officer at Google's innovation arm, didn't hold back. "AGI is going to be better than humans at everything, including being a CEO," he said. "There will be a time where most incompetent CEOs will be replaced." This warning comes amid rising public curiosity -- and concern -- about how AI will reshape the future of work. But Gawdat's perspective offers a sharp contrast to the often-optimistic vision shared by many industry leaders. Gawdat has seen the future up close. His own AI-powered startup, Emma.love, focused on emotional intelligence, was developed by just three people -- a feat he claims would have previously required 350 developers. Citing personal experience and decades in tech, he dismissed the common narrative that AI will create more jobs than it destroys. "The idea that artificial intelligence will create jobs is 100% crap," he said bluntly. He believes even roles requiring creativity and emotional nuance -- from podcasters to video editors -- are under threat. "We're now in a short window of augmented intelligence, where we still work alongside AI," Gawdat explained. "But it's quickly moving toward machine mastery." More than just a tech transition, Gawdat sees this moment as an existential reckoning for society. "We were never made to wake up every morning and just occupy 20 hours of our day with work," he said. "We defined our purpose as work -- that's a capitalist lie." He envisions a future that might seem utopian: one where people are free to focus on creativity, community, and joy, supported by universal basic income and freed from the grind of conventional employment. But getting there won't be easy. Gawdat warns of a "short-term dystopia" by 2027, marked by mass unemployment and economic instability if governments and institutions don't act responsibly. Gawdat's urgent tone stands in contrast with other tech figures like Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, who remains bullish on AI's potential to uplift workers. Huang argues that prompting and training AI is itself a sophisticated skill, and that the technology will augment human effort rather than erase it. Similarly, Mark Cuban champions AI literacy through youth-focused initiatives, while Meta's AI scientist Yann LeCun dismisses doomsday narratives altogether, insisting humans will remain in control. But Gawdat isn't alone. AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have also voiced grave concerns about unchecked AI development. Amodei, in a recent podcast appearance, predicted that up to 20% of entry-level white-collar jobs could vanish within five years. The tension is palpable. While some advocate for open innovation, others call for tight regulations to prevent reckless deployment. Gawdat fears that in the hands of profit-driven leaders, AI could deepen inequality. "Unless you're in the top 0.1%, you're a peasant. There is no middle class," he stated, highlighting the potential for AI to consolidate power and wealth. His concern echoes growing divisions within Silicon Valley itself. Amodei recently lashed out at Huang for misrepresenting his cautious stance on AI, accusing the NVIDIA boss of spreading "outrageous lies" to downplay the risks. Amodei has also warned against a "race to the bottom" in AI development, advocating instead for a responsible and transparent path -- one that companies like Anthropic claim to model through open research and ethical scaling. Despite the gloom, Gawdat remains hopeful for what lies beyond the upheaval -- a society where AI relieves us of soul-crushing labor and gives us back our time, relationships, and dignity. Still, his closing words are a reminder of how serious the stakes are: "This is real. This is not science fiction."

'It's 100% crap': Ex-Google exec rejects tech CEOs' rosy claims that AI will bring a golden age, warns even they aren't safe

A former Google executive warns that AI will trigger widespread job losses within 5 to 15 years, impacting even CEOs. Companies are already replacing human workers with AI systems, leading to calls for regulation. While AI itself isn't to blame, the focus on profit and labor arbitrage is, suggesting AI could replace immoral leaders for better governance. Tech leaders have long promised that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring a golden age of human progress. But a former Google executive has sharply rejected the idea that AI will create new jobs and boost human work, instead warning it will trigger widespread job losses in the coming years. Mo Gawdat, ex-chief business officer at Google X, told The Diary of a CEO podcast, "My belief is it is 100% crap." He said top workers in any field might stay for a while, but AI will soon take over most jobs. Several companies have already cut staff or frozen hiring to prepare for AI-driven workforces. Duolingo, Workday, and Klarna are among those replacing human workers with AI systems. Gawdat predicted a "jobs armageddon" within the next 5 to 15 years. The former Google executive also cautioned that CEOs should not feel safe, as AI could replace them too. "CEOs are celebrating that they can now get rid of people and have productivity gains and cost reductions because AI can do that job," he said. "The one thing they don't think of is AI will replace them too." He added, "AGI is going to be better at everything than humans, including being a CEO. You really have to imagine that there will be a time where most incompetent CEOs will be replaced." Despite his warnings, Gawdat said AI itself is not to blame for job losses. Instead, he pointed to current human values, especially capitalism's focus on profit and labor arbitrage. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with AI -- there's a lot wrong with the value set of humanity at the age of the rise of the machines," he said. AI is already performing tasks such as coding, customer service, administration, and market analysis faster than humans. Leaders at Google DeepMind and OpenAI predict AI will surpass even the most powerful people by 2030. Gawdat suggested AI could improve global leadership by replacing immoral corporate executives and world leaders. "The only way for us to get to a better place, is for the evil people at the top to be replaced with AI," he said. "Otherwise, they lose their advantage." He warned that AI-enabled leaders are "unavoidable" because technology will magnify both good and evil. Concerns over AI's impact have led figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google CEO Sundar Pichai to call for regulation. Altman has proposed an international body similar to the IAEA to oversee AI development, requiring audits, safety testing, and deployment controls. In a 2023 blog post, Altman wrote, "We are likely to eventually need something like an IAEA for superintelligence efforts," stressing the need for global oversight to prevent potential harm.

AI doom countdown begins: Ex-Google exec warns AI will unleash hell, to wipe out white-collar jobs by 2027

Former Google executive Mo Gawdat warns that artificial intelligence will trigger significant job losses, particularly in white-collar sectors, starting around 2027. He predicts a challenging period before AI potentially leads to a utopian future, emphasizing the urgent need for regulations and initiatives like Universal Basic Income to mitigate inequality and social unrest. Big warning from former Google executive Mo Gawdat - He said artificial intelligence (AI) will cause massive job losses and big problems for society starting in 2027. Gawdat called the next 15 years "hell" before any good times came, as per The Diary report. Gawdat was once the Chief Business Officer at Google X and now runs a startup called Emma.love, which uses AI for emotional and relationship support. He said only 3 people run Emma.love now, but earlier it would have taken 350 developers. That's how powerful AI has become, as stated by a Business Insider report. He even said podcasters like the one he spoke to will be replaced by AI too. Gawdat warned that white-collar jobs -- like office workers, analysts, lawyers, even coders -- will start disappearing by the late 2020s. He said middle-class workers will be hit hard, unlike past revolutions that mostly affected manual laborers, as per the New York Times report. ALSO READ: Trump praise sends American Eagle stock soaring 20% amid Sydney Sweeney ad controversy Gawdat, who became a millionaire at 29, said AI will create huge inequality unless it's regulated properly. He warned that the rich (top 0.1%) will get richer, and everyone else will struggle -- "There is no middle class...you're a peasant." The social impact will be serious -- people will feel lost, more lonely, and mental health issues will rise. Gawdat said a "utopia" could come after 2040, when humans are free from boring, repetitive work. In that future, people might focus more on love, community, and spirituality instead of just money and buying things. But he stressed that governments and businesses need to act now, with ideas like Universal Basic Income (UBI), to help people during the change. He said the future depends on how we regulate AI, give fair access, and add moral values into AI systems. "Our last hurrah as a species" could be how we choose to humanize and adapt to this AI world, Gawdat said, according to the report by New York Times. Gawdat's warnings are backed by other big names -- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said there could be a "white-collar bloodbath" soon. He said half of entry-level office jobs may vanish within 5 years, as stated by Business Insider report. ALSO READ: Under pressure from Trump, Apple and Samsung should heed this ex-CEO before making phones in the US The World Economic Forum says 40% of employers plan to cut jobs due to AI. Harvard researchers estimate that 35% of office work is now easy for AI to do. Job cuts are already happening - Challenger, Gray & Christmas says over 27,000 layoffs since 2023 were because of AI, as per the report by New York Times. Goldman Sachs and McKinsey say AI could add trillions to global GDP, but... the IMF warns this will make inequality worse if not handled right. MIT and PwC analysts also fear wage crashes, job loss, and social unrest if governments don't act fast, according to the report by Business Insider. Q1. When will AI start replacing white-collar jobs? AI is expected to begin replacing many white-collar jobs by the late 2020s, around 2027. Q2. How can governments help people affected by AI job losses? Governments can support workers by creating policies like Universal Basic Income (UBI) and regulating AI fairly.

Ex-Google exec's shocking warning: AI will create 15 years of 'hell'...

A former Google executive warned that artificial intelligence will plunge society into more than a decade of severe disruption and hardship as it eliminates many white-collar jobs -- and the "hell" will begin as early as 2027. Mo Gawdat, who left Google X as its chief business officer in 2018 and has become a popular author and public speaker, painted a grim picture of widespread job losses, economic inequality and social chaos from the AI revolution. "The next 15 years will be hell before we get to heaven," Gawdat told British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett on his "Diary of a CEO" podcast on Monday. Gawdat, 58, pointed to his own startup, Emma.love, which builds emotional and relationship-focused artificial intelligence. It is run by three people. "That startup would have been 350 developers in the past," he told Bartlett in the interview, first reported by Business Insider. "As a matter of fact, podcaster is going to be replaced." Gawdat specifically warned that "the end of white-collar work" will begin by the late 2020s, representing a fundamental shift in how society operates. Unlike previous technological revolutions that primarily affected manual labor, he argues this wave of automation will target educated professionals and middle-class workers who form the backbone of modern economies. The Egyptian-born tech whiz, who was a millionaire by age 29, believes this massive displacement will create dangerous levels of economic inequality. Without proper government oversight, AI technology will channel unprecedented wealth and influence to those who own or control these systems, while leaving millions of workers struggling to find their place in the new economy, according to Gawdat. Beyond economic concerns, Gawdat anticipates serious social consequences from this rapid transformation. Gawdat said AI will trigger significant "social unrest" as people grapple with losing their livelihoods and sense of purpose -- resulting in rising rates of mental health problems, increased loneliness and deepening social divisions. "Unless you're in the top 0.1%, you're a peasant," Gawdat said. "There is no middle class." Despite his gloomy predictions, Gawdat said that the period of "hell" will be followed by a "utopian" era that would begin after 2040, when workers will be free from doing repetitive and mundane tasks. Instead of being "focused on consumerism and greed," humanity could instead be guided by "love, community, and spiritual development," according to Gawdat. Gawdat said that it is incumbent on governments, individuals and businesses to take proactive measures such as the adoption of universal basic income to help people navigate the transition. "We are headed into a short-term dystopia, but we can still decide what comes after that," Gawdat told the podcast, emphasizing that the future remains malleable based on choices society makes today. He argued that outcomes will depend heavily on decisions regarding regulation, equitable access to technology, and what he calls the "moral programming" of AI algorithms. "Our last hurrah as a species could be how we adapt, re-imagine, and humanize this new world," Gawdat said. Gawdat's predictions about mass AI-driven disruption are increasingly backed by mainstream economic data and analysis. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned of a "white-collar bloodbath," predicting that up to half of all entry-level office jobs could vanish within five years. The World Economic Forum says 40% of global employers expect to reduce staff due to AI, and Harvard researchers estimate that 35% of white-collar tasks are now automatable. Meanwhile, Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports that over 27,000 job cuts since 2023 have been directly attributed to AI, with tens of thousands more expected. Goldman Sachs and McKinsey project a multi-trillion-dollar boost to global GDP from AI, but the IMF cautions that these gains may worsen inequality without targeted policy responses. Analysts from MIT and PwC echo Gawdat's fears of wage collapse, wealth concentration, and social unrest -- unless governments act swiftly to manage the transition.