The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has left many young Americans, including college students, feeling anxious about their job prospects and future, according to a report by the Financial Times from Pennsylvania.
On October 25, the FT reported that Robert Marsh, who graduated with a degree in computer science in 2022, struggles with job interviews. Reflecting on his graduation, he said, "I could basically interview anywhere back then," but added, "Now everything has changed, and I am asked in every interview, 'Do we really need you?'" He expressed concern that his career prospects seem to be overshadowed by a faction of the world's wealthiest and smartest individuals.
The article noted that while the large-scale layoffs anticipated since AI's emergence in 2022 have not yet materialized, AI technology is replacing tasks previously handled by entry-level employees. Eric Brynjolfsson, director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, stated, "Something real is happening," referring to the phenomenon as "canaries in the coal mine," suggesting that while it may start in certain sectors, it will gradually spread over time.
According to data from the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, as of September 2026, employment in jobs with high exposure to AI decreased by 0.5% compared to the previous year, while jobs with low exposure increased by 1.0%. Notably, for early-career workers aged 22 to 25, employment in high-exposure jobs fell by 3.7%, while low-exposure jobs saw a 0.2% increase.
AI experts have also warned about the potential for widespread layoffs. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, cautioned that AI could replace more than half of entry-level white-collar jobs in the U.S. within the next one to five years, as reported by the FT. Additionally, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, warned that while AI could advance humanity within a decade, it might also lead to a scenario where humans are no longer needed.
Reuters reported on October 22 that major global companies have implemented significant layoffs since last October. Amazon laid off 16,000 employees in January, Microsoft cut 4,800 jobs in July, and Kroger, a major U.S. retailer, let go of 3,000 employees this month.
Columnist Nick Romeos suggested in a piece for The Guardian that job guarantees could serve as an alternative to mass unemployment caused by AI. While job guarantees are an idealistic policy, Romeos pointed out that they have been proposed before. He cited the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work, and to protection against unemployment." He also referenced the U.S. government's job creation through large-scale infrastructure projects during the Great Depression and similar policies being pursued in France, India, and Argentina.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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