Are you in these two professions? AI will replace you in office then, warns Perplexity CEO

Time of India

6 days ago

Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas has revealed that two white-collar roles—recruiters and executive assistants—are likely to be among the first replaced by AI. Speaking on The Verge's podcast, he explained that the company's AI browser, Comet, is being designed to automate key administrative and organizational tasks. With the integration of more advanced reasoning models, Srinivas believes tools like Comet will soon handle everything from candidate outreach to calendar management with minimal human input.
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Recruiters May Be the First to Go
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The Product and Its Future
A Warning for the Workforce
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at a rapid pace, tech leaders are beginning to signal major changes ahead for the workplace. One such voice is Aravind Srinivas , CEO of Perplexity AI , who believes that AI-powered tools will soon take over key functions traditionally handled by white-collar professionals.In a recent episode of The Verge's Decoder podcast, he outlined how the company's latest product, an AI browser named Comet, is designed to eventually automate the functions of two common office jobs: recruiters and executive assistants.Srinivas explained that recruiting, at its core, involves a series of repetitive tasks that are well-suited to automation. With more advanced reasoning models—like upcoming versions of GPT-5 or Claude 4.5—he believes tools like Comet will be able to handle sourcing candidates, conducting outreach, tracking responses, and managing communication workflows.According to Srinivas, tasks that typically take a human recruiter a week to complete could be reduced to a single AI-generated prompt. Comet is designed to interact with tools such as LinkedIn, Gmail, and Google Sheets to carry out candidate sourcing, send emails, update progress, and even schedule meetings—all without constant human input.Alongside recruiters, executive assistants are another role likely to be impacted. Comet is already capable of managing administrative responsibilities like calendar scheduling, email responses, and meeting coordination. Srinivas described a scenario where the AI tracks communication statuses, resolves scheduling conflicts, updates spreadsheets, and even prepares briefings before meetings.He emphasized that the tool is being developed to function proactively, without the need for repeated instructions. The broader vision is for Comet to evolve into an autonomous assistant—a kind of operating system for knowledge workers—capable of executing complex tasks through natural language input.Currently available by invitation to select premium users, Comet is positioned as a high-end tool for professionals. Srinivas pointed out that while access is limited, the value proposition is significant: if the AI can help generate millions in business output, users will see value in spending substantial sums for high-performing prompts.Speaking to Business Insider, Srinivas stressed that this level of automation is not only possible but imminent with more powerful AI models. He expects this transformation to unfold rapidly as reasoning capabilities improve.In a separate conversation with technology analyst Matthew Berman, Srinivas urged young professionals to shift their focus from passive digital consumption to skill development. He warned that those who fail to adapt to the accelerating pace of AI innovation risk falling behind.He highlighted that advancements in AI are now occurring every few months, and the ability to harness these tools effectively will define future success. Rather than spending hours on social media, Srinivas advised the next generation to build competencies that align with the new direction of the job market.