Perplexity CEO Predicts AI to Replace Recruiters and Assistants Within Six Months

AI Poised to Disrupt White-Collar Jobs

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, has issued a stark warning about the imminent impact of artificial intelligence on certain white-collar professions. In a recent interview on The Verge's Decoder podcast, Srinivas predicted that roles such as recruiters and executive assistants could become obsolete within the next six months to a year, due to rapid advancements in AI technology 1.

Source: Fast Company

The Rise of AI Browsers

At the heart of this prediction is the emergence of sophisticated AI browsers, exemplified by Perplexity's recently launched Comet. This AI-powered browser features an Assistant mode capable of performing a wide range of tasks, including researching topics, booking flights, and scheduling meetings 1.

Srinivas acknowledged that while current currently has limitations in handling long-horizon tasks, he expressed confidence in its rapid development: "I'm pretty sure [that within] six months to a year from now, it can do the entire thing." This suggests that AI could soon manage complex workflows with minimal human intervention 1.

Recruiters and Executive Assistants at Risk

Source: Economic Times

The Perplexity CEO specifically highlighted two professions as being particularly vulnerable to AI replacement: recruiters and executive assistants. He explained that with the integration of more advanced reasoning models, AI tools like Comet are being designed to automate key administrative and organizational tasks 2.

For recruiters, the threat comes from AI's potential to handle candidate outreach and screening processes more efficiently. Executive assistants may find their roles challenged by AI's ability to manage calendars, schedule meetings, and perform other organizational tasks with increasing sophistication 2.

Implications for the Job Market

Srinivas's predictions add to a growing chorus of AI industry leaders warning about the technology's potential to disrupt traditional employment patterns. The rapid pace of AI development suggests that the impact on the job market could be more immediate and widespread than previously anticipated 1.

As AI continues to evolve, it raises important questions about the future of work, the need for reskilling and upskilling in the workforce, and the potential economic and social implications of widespread job displacement in white-collar sectors.