Ex-Google executive predicts a dystopian job apocalypse by 2027: 'AI will be better than humans at everything... even CEOs'
— StevenBartlett (@StevenBartlett)
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Divided Visions of the AI Future
Not Just About Jobs, It's About Power
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.'
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