If technological progress has historically created new jobs, what makes the rise of artificial intelligence different—and could it lead to lasting job displacement instead?

 

Historically, technological progress has disrupted industries but ultimately created new kinds of work—factory jobs after the industrial revolution, IT and service roles after the digital boom. But artificial intelligence may be fundamentally different. Unlike past innovations that replaced physical labor or repetitive tasks, AI is capable of performing both intellectual and manual work at scale. It can write code, diagnose diseases, drive vehicles, and even teach students—functions once thought to require uniquely human judgment. The breadth and speed of this transformation could outpace our ability to retrain workers or invent new roles fast enough to absorb those displaced.

 

What’s more, AI systems don’t just automate tasks—they can make decisions, learn independently, and operate without human oversight. This raises the possibility that entire categories of jobs, from customer service to legal analysis, could vanish without clear replacements. The jobs AI does create may require advanced technical skills, and may even replace those jobs as AI gets even better. That’s why this moment demands a different response: one that includes public investment in human-centered innovation, redirecting our goals to create jobs instead of just eliminating them, and a commitment to ensuring that technology augments human potential rather than replaces it.

 

The future of work depends not just on what AI can do—but on what we choose to do with it.