Prepare for an AI jobs apocalypse
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Leaders | Our cover<br>Prepare for an AI jobs apocalypse<br>It is not here yet. But governments should lay a safety-net<br>Share
Illustration: Richard Carey
May 14th 2026|5 min read
The launch of ChatGPT in 2022 ignited the artificial-intelligence boom—and elicited a chorus of warnings from AI bosses of an impending jobs apocalypse. Never mind that they have reason to talk up the disruptiveness of their products, or that rich-world employment is near all-time highs—the dark message has landed. Seven in ten Americans think AI will make it harder for people to find work; nearly a third fear for their own jobs. A dearth of openings for college graduates—especially computer programmers—amplifies the dread.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “How to prepare for a jobs apocalypse”
From the May 16th 2026 edition<br>Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents<br>⇒Explore the edition
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