The AI Job Shake‑Up: What It Means for Everyone

Khan Academy’s chief says that even a 10 % cut in white‑collar work could feel like a depression for many people. He worries that the speed and depth of AI’s impact will outpace what most predict, especially as experts like Geoffrey Hinton warn that automation could push a large share of workers into unemployment. The concern isn’t limited to office jobs. In conversations with tech leaders, Khan heard claims that a team could do the same work with only a quarter of its current size. This hints at a future where gig workers—drivers, delivery people, and others—might lose their livelihoods as driverless cars become common. Khan also points to an identity crisis that could hit the upper‑middle class, whose sense of self has been built around stable, well‑paid jobs for two decades. A sudden job shift could unsettle many who rely on that identity.Research backs up the worry: a 2025 MIT study projects AI could replace about 12 % of U. S. workers, nearly triple the current rate. Even today, AI has caused roughly 55 000 layoffs last year, with companies like Salesforce cutting thousands of customer‑service roles after adopting AI tools. To counter this, Khan proposes that large firms allocate 1 % of their personnel costs or profits to a national reskilling program. He argues that current training is too narrow, and without flexible pathways—such as moving from truck driving to radiology tech—a big problem will arise. So far, the economy shows modest resilience: unemployment dipped to 4. 3 % recently. Yet AI’s presence is growing, and the early signs of workforce disruption should prompt leaders to act now. If we wait another year or more, the damage could be far harder to fix. The bottom line is that AI isn’t just a technological shift—it’s reshaping who works, how they work, and what they value. Preparing for it means thinking beyond current jobs and building adaptable skills for everyone.