OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs sound alarms: AI could slash half of entry-level white-collar jobs in five years. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, predicts the next billion-dollar company might run with just one person using AI.
Tech layoffs hit 64,000+ this year. Microsoft and Intel lead cuts, blaming AI-driven efficiency. But this trend could backfire. Experts warn firing creative staff now risks innovation dry spells later.
McKinsey data: companies with built-in innovation perform 3.5x better. History backs this. Blockbuster had customers but no vision; Netflix took over. 
AI can speed up tasks and reduce grunt work—it imitates, doesn’t invent. Mark Runco’s research shows AI only offers “artificial creativity.” It supports creators but won’t replace them.
AI can only produce artificial creativity
— Mark Runco, academic
Firing your innovators because "AI can do it" might sharpen your short-term margins, but expect flat product roadmaps next quarter.
Leaders should hold onto talent. Use AI to free time for creative work. Remember Gmail and AdSense? They started as Googlers’ side projects, not mandated tasks. Those projects came from people who had time to experiment—something layoffs threaten.
The AI hype often overlooks real-world limits: technical challenges, privacy issues, and debugging AI mishaps. Many companies could be forced to rehire once AI falls short.
The message is clear: the winners will combine AI with human creativity, not cut staff in AI’s name. AI is changing business rules. Your move determines if you lead or fall behind in five years.
