Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could displace a large share of entry-level white-collar jobs within the next one to five years.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Amodei said AI capabilities are evolving faster than many businesses and policymakers realise, with systems now able to perform tasks traditionally assigned to junior staff.
These include summarising documents, generating ideas, and preparing financial reports—functions that form the backbone of early-career roles in sectors such as finance, consulting, and technology.
His comments echo growing concerns from global institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the International Labour Organisation, both of which have warned about the potential labour market disruption driven by AI.
Amodei noted that the technology has advanced significantly in a short time. “Two years ago, AI systems were like a smart high school student. Now they are closer to a smart college student, and still improving,” he said.
While highlighting AI’s potential to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, energy, and scientific research, he cautioned that the same capabilities could shrink the pipeline of entry-level jobs.
“I think these roles will first be augmented, but before long, many could be replaced,” he said, adding that the speed of change could trigger a broader employment challenge if not properly managed.
Despite the risks, Amodei stressed that AI development is unlikely to slow. With multiple companies globally racing to build more advanced systems, he argued that the focus should shift from stopping AI to managing its impact.
He urged governments to prioritise reskilling, AI education, and policies that can help workers transition into new roles. He also suggested that redistributing some of the economic gains from AI, potentially through taxation, could be part of the solution.
Recent data underscores the scale of the challenge. The ILO estimates that about 25 per cent of jobs globally are exposed to generative AI, rising to 34 per cent in advanced economies. Meanwhile, the IMF projects that nearly 40 per cent of jobs worldwide could be affected.
As AI continues to evolve, the debate is shifting from whether disruption will happen to how societies can adapt quickly enough to manage it.
