At a recent AI conference in San Francisco, industry leaders sent a mixed message about the future of work: learn to use AI, stay adaptable, and focus on human skills—but no one could clearly answer how many jobs might disappear.
The event, called HumanX, brought together thousands of tech leaders, investors, and founders. Outside the main halls, a sign that read “Stop hiring humans” set a sharp tone for the discussions inside.
On stage, AI executives said companies are going through a kind of panic as AI tools spread quickly through workplaces. Many businesses are already reshaping teams and changing how work gets done.
Some major companies have linked layoffs directly to AI. Salesforce cut thousands of customer support roles, saying AI now handles a large share of that work. Block also announced plans to shrink its workforce, pointing to new automation tools and changing company needs.
Not everyone agrees that AI is the only reason. Some economists argue that companies may also be using AI as a justification for cuts that were already planned due to cost pressures or earlier over-hiring.
Still, most leaders agree on one thing: AI is already changing how companies operate, and more change is coming.
Tech leaders say AI will touch nearly every job, but they also argue it won’t just eliminate work—it will reshape it. Instead of replacing all roles, many say workers will need to focus more on judgment, communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Some even believe coding itself is becoming more accessible because of AI, allowing more people to build software without deep technical training. Others disagree, saying coding skills will still matter, just in a different way.
There’s also growing concern about entry-level jobs. Studies suggest hiring for junior roles in tech has dropped sharply in recent years, raising worries about how new workers will gain experience.
One former US vice president warned that society may be underestimating how many knowledge-based jobs could be affected and said stronger planning is needed to prepare workers for that shift.
Even among supporters of AI, there is unease. Some experts say future workers may grow up without ever completing a project fully on their own, relying instead on AI systems to do most of the heavy lifting.
In the end, the message from the conference was not simple. AI may boost productivity and change how we work—but it is also raising hard questions about jobs, training, and what work will even look like in the years ahead.
