Over the past year, the dominant message about artificial intelligence has been reassuring: Tools such as ChatGPT aren’t coming for your job.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 Annual Business Survey, for example, found that AI “had little impact on the number or skills of workers that businesses employ.”
However, history suggests a more complex narrative. While technological revolutions often lead to the creation of new industries and employment opportunities, they tend to displace existing jobs first — sometimes dramatically.
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That disruption isn’t just a workforce issue; it’s a personal finance one. When livelihoods are at risk, so are savings, retirement plans, and financial stability. In this light, AI isn’t just a productivity tool — it’s a force reshaping the economic security of millions.
New York University marketing professor and podcaster Scott Galloway, in his Nov. 3 Prof G Markets newsletter, quoted three important leaders in the AI technology business as they had framed this discussion in the past.
- Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google: “Google has seen a 10% boost in productivity of its engineers thanks to AI … and the company expects to hire more engineers because of it.”
- Marc Benioff, Chair, CEO and co-founder of Salesforce: “I think AI augments people; I don’t know if it necessarily replaces them.”
- Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz: “AI destroying jobs and making everyone poor is a ‘fallacy.’”
Scott Galloway’ s blunt words on AI, Big Tech jobs
Galloway explains his perspective on how the presence of AI is impacting workers amid Big Tech layoffs and concerns about employment.
“The headlines tell a different story,” Galloway wrote. “In just the past week, Amazon, Paramount, UPS, YouTube, and Meta all announced new rounds of layoffs. So far this year, U.S. employers have announced 946,000 job cuts, the most since 2020.”
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics writes that “projecting future employment involves substantial uncertainty, especially in the case of evaluating the future impacts of a developing technology.”
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Even so, Galloway weighs in with his perspective on what he believes will be next for the impact of AI technology on employment security.
“AI is coming for middle management first,” Galloway wrote. “Amazon’s latest restructuring aims to reduce organizational layers, and the number of managers at public companies dropped 6.1% from May 2022 to May 2025.”
“The average supervisor now manages six direct reports, double the number five years ago,” he added. “The question now isn’t whether AI will take jobs, it’s how you’ll protect yours.”
Galloway offers advice for workers amid AI fears
Galloway, along with his Prof G Markets podcast co-host Ed Elson, suggested five steps workers can take to be proactive about their employment in the face of AI headwinds.
- Take inventory of what side of AI you’re on. Start by identifying whether your job is vulnerable to AI disruption — roles in sales, customer service, PR, and market analysis are especially exposed. If you’re in a high-risk category, prioritize visibility, build relationships with decision-makers, and start developing future-proof skills.
- Assess where your human capital belongs. A layoff can be a moment to reevaluate where your strengths and values align best. Sometimes losing a job simply means you weren’t in the right environment, and that shift can open doors to more meaningful work.
- Getting laid off hurts. Staying paralyzed hurts more. The emotional fallout of job loss is real, but lingering in it can be more damaging than the layoff itself. Give yourself time to process, then reconnect with others and take care of your well-being to rebuild momentum.
- Develop skills AI cannot replace. Focus on cultivating traits such as empathy, creativity, leadership, and strategic thinking — qualities that remain essential even as technology continues to evolve. Stay active in your network and invest in relationships that reinforce your human edge.
- Recognize you may need to develop new skills — or take a pay cut. Adapting to change may mean learning something new or accepting a lower salary temporarily. Detaching self-worth from income and embracing growth over status is a powerful form of resilience.
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