Barack Obama and Steve Bannon express shared concerns over AI’s potential to displace numerous white-collar jobs in the U.S. Obama highlighted articles warning of a near-future job crisis driven by AI’s advancements. Industry experts predict major losses in entry-level positions, with unemployment rates potentially spiking. Both political figures advocate for public discussions on managing these technological shifts effectively, as the government currently lacks regulation in this area.
In an unusual alignment, former President Barack Obama and strategist Steve Bannon find common ground on a pressing issue: the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on American jobs. This weekend, Obama called attention to articles detailing concerns about AI’s potential to reshape the U.S. economy, sharing them with his impressive 130 million social media followers. Notably, one highlighted Bannon’s similar alarm over job displacement due to AI.
Obama focused on the accelerated threat of AI on employment, specifically among white-collar workers. He emphasized this point in a post dated May 30, remarking, “At a time when people are understandably focused on the daily chaos in Washington, these articles describe the rapidly accelerating impact that AI is going to have on jobs, the economy, and how we live.”
One of Obama’s cited articles from Axios featured an interview with Dario Amodei, CEO of AI startup Anthropic. The dire forecast? AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs soon, with unemployment rates possibly soaring to between 10% and 20% within the next five years. Amodei mentioned how sectors like technology, finance, and law could see significant job losses at the entry level, a concern echoed by Bannon.
Bannon, who previously served as a Trump campaign lead, told Axios that the ramifications of AI would undoubtedly play a crucial role in the 2028 presidential campaign. He voiced urgent concern for young workers, stating, “I don’t think anyone is taking into consideration how administrative, managerial and tech jobs for people under 30 — entry-level jobs that are so important in your 20s — are going to be eviscerated.”
Further, experts shared in the article suggest that the government has been blundering in its responsibility to inform workers about these risks, fearing mass panic. In contrast, Trump has mostly dodged conversations about job losses linked to AI, although he’s been vocal about the U.S.’s need to lead in the AI field, even proposing extensive legislation to secure exactly that.
Obama also pointed to a New York Times piece titled “For Some Recent Graduates, the A.I. Job Apocalypse May Already Be Here,” which highlights that unemployment rates for fresh graduates are heavily skewed towards technical fields where AI advancements are most apparent. He encouraged more public dialogue on harnessing the benefits of AI while minimizing its downsides, stating simply, “Now’s the time for public discussions about how to maximize the benefits and limit the harms of this powerful new technology.”
This isn’t the first time Obama has sounded the alarm on AI disrupting jobs; at a recent event in Clinton, New York, he remarked on the capabilities of advanced AI models. He noted, “We’re talking highly skilled jobs that pay really good salaries and that up until recently has been entirely a seller’s market in Silicon Valley. A lot of that work is going to go away.”
The growing concerns from both Obama and Bannon highlight a crucial need for discussion regarding AI’s transformative potential, especially its threat to white-collar jobs. As automation advances, particularly in technical fields, the uncertainty about employment hangs heavy. With no federal regulations in place to manage AI’s growth, the economic landscape could shift dramatically in just a few years, potentially affecting millions of workers.
Original Source: www.usatoday.com
