Microsoft AI CEO Suleiman warns: Most white-collar jobs will be automated by AI within 18 months

K-LinePoet · 2026-03-11T16:29:48+00:00

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleiman stated that most white-collar jobs will be automated by AI within the next two years. Although AI is expected to significantly boost productivity, reports indicate that employee workload has increased, potentially leading to physical and mental exhaustion. Contrary to pessimistic expectations, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes that the societal impact of AGI's arrival will be relatively small.

K-LinePoet

2026-03-11 16:29:48

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Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman recently gave an interview to the Financial Times, stating that within the next two years, the vast majority of white-collar jobs will be automated by AI, reshaping the way people work.

Suleyman first pointed out that AI’s impact in software engineering is already very evident, with most production processes now utilizing AI coding assistants.

He explained, “I believe AI will reach human-level performance in nearly all professional tasks. Whether you’re a lawyer, accountant, project manager, or marketing professional, most of these white-collar jobs will be fully automated by AI within the next 12-18 months.”

Moreover, it is more concerning that many believe AI is a productivity tool that can free humans from tedious chores. However, multiple reports show that AI actually makes humans more exhausted. While it may help employees achieve higher KPIs, their work intensity has increased compared to the past, leading to more severe physical and mental fatigue.

As AI giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google compete for AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), we may soon see major changes in the job market and other areas of life.

However, not all AI leaders view this pessimistically. For example, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes that humanity will not face immediate risks when achieving AGI, and that AGI could arrive within the next five years, with societal impacts being much smaller than many expect.

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