Experts have pushed back against recent warnings by Anthropic CEO, Dario Amodei that artificial intelligence could replace a large share of entry-level white-collar jobs within the next one to five years.
Amodei had cautioned that AI systems are advancing rapidly, with capabilities that many individuals, businesses, and policymakers may be underestimating.
He noted that tasks typically handled by junior staff—such as summarising documents, generating ideas, and preparing financial reports—are increasingly being performed by AI.
What experts are saying
Speaking on the latest edition of Drinks and Mics, finance professional, Oluwapelumi Joseph, argued that fears of widespread job losses are overstated and that AI will instead create new opportunities.
- “With every innovation that has come, what you’ve always had is there’s been this over-exaggeration of what it would lead to in terms of unemployment. And what we’ve always found is that new types of employment come about.
- “So, I was seeing a job posting on Anthropic for an events manager two days ago in New York for in-person type events, $400,000 a year. “
Joseph added that just as past financial crises led to increased hiring in compliance roles, AI could drive demand for new categories of jobs, particularly in regulation and standard-setting.
Get up to speed
Amodei’s warning aligns with earlier concerns raised by global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the International Labour Organization regarding the disruptive potential of AI.
He explained that AI has evolved significantly in the past two years, moving from the level of a “smart high school student” to that of a “smart college student.”
He warned that while AI could unlock breakthroughs in healthcare, energy, and science, it could also disrupt labour markets.
These concerns reflect broader global debates on how quickly automation could reshape employment structures.
More insights
Also speaking on the podcast, Tunji Andrews, CEO of Awabah, downplayed concerns, noting that technological change has always coexisted with human labour.
- “They’re miners, just the same way, 300 years ago, people were going into the earth. People were still farming. They’re still there today. There will still be jobs for everybody. It is us that is worried about Anthropic.”
- “Now, what I have been able to see about my interactions with AI is that it is very consistent in understanding who you are as a person…”
He added that advancements such as AI plugins are enabling continuous interactions, making systems more adaptive and personalised for users.
What you should know
Recent data highlights both the risks and opportunities tied to AI adoption.
A report by the International Labour Organization and Poland’s National Research Institute (NASK) found that 25% of jobs globally are potentially exposed to generative AI.
The exposure rises to 34% in high-income countries, reflecting higher levels of digital integration.
Earlier, the International Monetary Fund estimated that nearly 40% of jobs globally could be influenced by AI.
While AI is expected to reshape the global workforce, experts maintain that it is more likely to transform jobs rather than eliminate them entirely.
