Remember when “AI taking our jobs” sounded like a distant sci-fi idea? That future may be much closer than expected. I recently read an interview with Geoffrey Hinton—the “Godfather of AI”—and his warnings feel less like speculation and more like an early glimpse of reality.
Hinton believes that by 2026, AI-driven job displacement will accelerate dramatically. And this isn’t limited to factory work or repetitive tasks anymore—AI is now moving into areas we once believed required uniquely human intelligence.
What’s already happening?
AI systems are replacing call center roles and are on track to handle advanced software development—work that currently takes human teams months to complete.
AI performance is improving at a staggering pace, roughly doubling every seven months, a rate most people underestimate.
Since the release of ChatGPT, some industries have seen entry-level job postings fall by 30%, while companies like Amazon reduce staff and increase output using AI tools.
But Hinton’s real concern isn’t just the technology—it’s the economic structure behind it. He warns that AI could lead to widespread unemployment, with wealth increasingly concentrated among a small elite. This outcome, he argues, is driven by capitalist incentives, where corporate profits often take priority over safety, fairness, and social stability.
Two possible futures emerging at once:
The upside: major advances in healthcare, education, and climate research.
The downside: large-scale job loss, ethical dangers, and AI systems capable of deception in pursuit of their objectives.
Hinton stresses that society is seriously underestimating these risks. AI is evolving so rapidly that our social systems, job markets, and policies may not be able to keep up.
This raises urgent questions about a future that’s already unfolding:
Which jobs are truly safe from AI in the near term? And what should everyday people do now—reskill, specialize, carve out new roles, or push for changes in the global economic system?