In my last newsletter, I stressed the importance of leadership balancing the fears of AI and the crucial requirement to invest in AI use cases that are grounded in corporate purpose.
A new Reuters/Ipsos survey polled 4,446 American adults online in August, found that 70% of Americans fear artificial intelligence could “put people out of work permanently.” Concerns raised in the Reuters/Ipsos survey extended beyond employment, with 77% of Americans saying they fear artificial intelligence could be used to incite political chaos and nearly 50% saying they oppose its role in selecting military targets. Another 61% worried about the strain on electricity, while about 66% saw a risk that people might trade human relationships for AI companions.
The World Economic Forum estimates that 92 million jobs worldwide could be displaced by 2030, but 170 million new ones will be created in their place. The promise of new opportunities underscores the optimism driving corporate adoption, even as public fears mount. A Microsoft study found language-heavy work, including writing, teaching, translation, and editing, already overlaps heavily with generative AI.
Employers are also planning for workforce reductions. The World Economic Forum estimates that 40% of firms expect to shrink staff where AI can automate tasks.
For many workers, displacement is no longer a distant projection. An analysis published on SSRN estimated that 76,440 jobs have already been cut in 2025 as employers turn to AI tools.
At the same time, Gallup data shows that while 44% of employees report AI is already being used in their workplace, only 22% say leadership has explained how it will be applied.
We are faced with balancing the positive attributes of AI Innovation with some of the innovation risks.
Where will future jobs come from?
Future jobs will emerge from growth in the care economy, frontline roles like construction and agriculture, technology-driven positions such as AI and data specialists, and green transition jobs like renewable energy engineering. Technological advancements and global shifts in economics and climate change are driving demand for skills like AI, big data, and green tech, while also creating new roles and transforming existing ones.
Care Economy: Significant growth is expected in nursing, social work, personal care, and other roles supporting healthcare and social services.
Frontline Occupations: Jobs such as farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, and food processing workers are projected to have large absolute growth.
Technology: High-growth areas include AI and machine learning specialists, big data specialists, fintech engineers, and software developers.
Green Transition: Roles focused on sustainability, such as renewable energy engineers and environmental engineers, are in high demand.
High-Skill & Professional: Demand will increase for engineers, scientists, accountants, and other professionals who work in complex, analytical roles.
Conclusion
As research continues to mount with employee and citizen unrest over AI, leadership is needed to increase corporate responsibility to shape the future of work.
