logo
Which Workers Will A.I. Hurt Most: The Young or the Experienced?

Which Workers Will A.I. Hurt Most: The Young or the Experienced?

New York Times3 days ago
When Amazon's chief executive, Andy Jassy, wrote last month that he expected the company's use of artificial intelligence to 'reduce our total work force' over the next few years, it confirmed the fear among many workers that A.I. would replace them. The fear was reinforced two weeks later when Microsoft said it was laying off about 9,000 people, roughly 4 percent of its work force.
That artificial intelligence is poised to displace white-collar workers is indisputable. But what kind of workers, exactly? Mr. Jassy's announcement landed in the middle of a debate over just this question.
Some experts argue that A.I. is most likely to affect novice workers, whose tasks are generally simplest and therefore easiest to automate. Dario Amodei, the chief executive of the A.I. company Anthropic, recently told Axios that the technology could cannibalize half of all entry-level white-collar roles within five years. An uptick in the unemployment rate for recent college graduates has aggravated this concern, even if it doesn't prove that A.I. is the cause of their job-market struggles.
But other captains of the A.I. industry have taken the opposite view, arguing that younger workers are likely to benefit from A.I. and that experienced workers will ultimately be more vulnerable. In an interview at a New York Times event in late June, Brad Lightcap, the chief operating officer of OpenAI, suggested that the technology could pose problems for 'a class of worker that I think is more tenured, is more oriented toward a routine in a certain way of doing things.'
The ultimate answer to this question will have vast implications. If entry-level jobs are most at risk, it could require a rethinking of how we educate college students, or even the value of college itself. And if older workers are most at risk, it could lead to economic and even political instability as large-scale layoffs become a persistent feature of the labor market.
David Furlonger, a vice president at the research firm Gartner who helps oversee its survey of chief executives, has considered the implications if A.I. displaces more experienced workers.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump affirms 50% tariff on copper imports will start Aug. 1
Trump affirms 50% tariff on copper imports will start Aug. 1

Washington Post

time5 minutes ago

  • Washington Post

Trump affirms 50% tariff on copper imports will start Aug. 1

President Donald Trump on Wednesday affirmed that the United States will levy a 50 percent tariff on copper imports starting Aug. 1, following through on an earlier statement that he would target a key metal used for semiconductors, lithium ion batteries, renewable energy technology and more. 'America will, once again, build a DOMINANT Copper Industry,' Trump said Wednesday evening on Truth Social.

8 tech gadgets that made my 30-hour travel day seamless—all on sale for Prime Day
8 tech gadgets that made my 30-hour travel day seamless—all on sale for Prime Day

USA Today

time40 minutes ago

  • USA Today

8 tech gadgets that made my 30-hour travel day seamless—all on sale for Prime Day

I'm a budget traveler through and through, but sometimes my frugal tendencies can get me into trouble. Case in point: When I was traveling home from a trip to Copenhagen, I (foolishly) updated my flight plans to take another route back which entailed an additional layover—and the promise of shaving hundreds of dollars off my original flight booking. What was supposed to be a short layover in another city quickly turned into multiple rerouted flights and endless hours spent in foreign airports. By the time all was said and done, my 15-hour travel day had evolved into a 30-hour one. And the only thing that kept me sane in the chaos? A handful of small but mighty tech gadgets that enabled me to stay charged, stay connected and stay entertained while I was on the go—all from Amazon and all currently on sale at Prime Day 2025. While I wouldn't wish my lengthy travel day on anyone, I can vouch that these tech products are the real deal. And if you (like me) are someone who travels frequently or just wants to be prepared in the event of a hectic travel day, you're not going to want to miss these Prime Day deals: MORE: We found a best-selling Samsonite suitcase for 50% off at Amazon Amazon Prime Day deals: Travel-friendly tech on sale More: I'm a frequent flyer. Shop 10 Prime Day travel deals I'm packing first ✈️ More: Shop Amazon's most popular Kindle devices and e-readers on sale at Prime Day 2025 📖 Amazon Prime Day 2025 begins on Tuesday, July 8 and will end on Friday, July 11. USA TODAY Shopping will be covering all the savings throughout Prime Day 2025, so be sure to sign up for text alerts, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram to stay updated! In order to access most deals, you'll want to be an Amazon Prime member. The July Prime Day sale has tons of special Prime-exclusive discounts on select products that can help members save more than anyone else. Plus, joining Prime helps guarantee you get other perks like fast shipping all year long, access to Prime Video, Prime Reading, Prime Gaming and more. Sign up for Amazon Prime

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store