Fear Grows That AI Is Permanently Eliminating Jobs

"In 2026, the grim comedy of late capitalism seems to have found a perfect punchline: workers laid off in a dismal job market are now being hired to train AI systems meant to replace them altogether. If a great AI replacement ever comes to pass, the scale of potential displacement is massive. MIT researchers recently calculated that today's AI systems could already automate tasks performed by more than 20 million American workers, or about 11.7 percent of the entire US labor force."

"And things are looking tangiblygrim: in January, the total number of job cuts exceeded even 2009, when the country was still roiling from the great recession. That being the case, it's no surprise that workers are worried - and not just about their immediate employment prospects. The anxiety is evolving into something deeper, the result of AI's seemingly rapidly expanding intelligence."

"Back in August, a poll conducted by Reuters and Ipsos showed that 71 percent of American respondents are concerned that AI will put "too many people out of work permanently." Though there was little evidence AI was causing mass unemployment at the time, a slew of layoffs in early 2026 have thrust the possibility of AI-fueled labor dystopia back into the spotlight."

In 2026, laid-off workers are being hired to train AI systems that could ultimately replace them. MIT estimates current AI could automate tasks performed by over 20 million American workers, roughly 11.7% of the US labor force. January job cuts exceeded 2009 levels, amplifying employment insecurity. Public concern has risen, with 71% of Americans fearing AI will permanently displace too many workers. Early-2026 layoffs renewed fears of an AI-driven labor dystopia. A petition nearing 135,000 signatures calls for a prohibition on developing superintelligence, drawing endorsements from diverse political and professional figures.

Read at Futurism