Mo Gawdat, the former chief business officer at Google, recently expressed his views on the impending rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential transformations it will bring. According to Gawdat, as powerful as AI may be, it will not be capable of generating new jobs for every position it replaces—an assertion he describes as “100% crap.”

Gawdat believes that the current economic structure, primarily based in the West, is leading society towards a service or knowledge economy where the only contributions made are those that can eventually be automated. “All we produce in the West is words and designs,” he remarked, emphasizing that AI can replicate these outputs effortlessly.

Despite his optimism about AI’s capabilities to ease human workload, Gawdat warns that companies are inclined to prioritize efficiency over employment, leading to significant job losses. He further stated that as artificial general intelligence evolves into a superior force capable of outperforming humans across various tasks—including leadership roles—corporate landscapes will undergo drastic changes.

“Are we ready to discuss the ideological shifts needed to address the mass unemployment that could arise due to AI’s advancements?” Gawdat challenged, suggesting that society needs to rethink its priorities and the significant funds currently allocated towards military operations could rather address pressing issues like poverty and hunger. His message calls for a concerted effort to ensure that a future dictated by AI does not lead to a new form of oppression, but rather a productivity shift that benefits all of humanity.