The long-term impact of artificial intelligence has become one of the most fiercely debated issues in the tech world. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicts AI will transform nearly every occupation and may ultimately enable a four-day workweek. Bill Gates believes humans may soon be unnecessary for “most tasks,” while Elon Musk has gone even further, forecasting that most people will not need to work at all within two decades.
These predictions, however dramatic, are not just possible—they are probable, according to Geoffrey Hinton, the trailblazing computer scientist often called the “Godfather of AI.” Speaking at Georgetown University during a discussion with Senator Bernie Sanders, Hinton warned that AI could trigger an unprecedented economic disruption.
“It seems very likely to many people that AI will cause massive unemployment,” Hinton said. He argued that corporations investing billions into AI infrastructure—from data centers to advanced chips—expect to recoup their money largely by selling systems that perform human jobs at far lower costs. “They are essentially betting on AI replacing a large number of workers,” he added.
Hinton has grown increasingly outspoken about what he sees as Silicon Valley’s misplaced priorities. He told Fortune that Big Tech is motivated primarily by short-term profit, not scientific advancement—leading companies to aggressively push AI products that substitute human labor with automated systems.
His comments come at a time when the economics of AI are under scrutiny. OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, is not expected to reach profitability until at least 2030, and analysts estimate it may need over $207 billion in investments to support future growth.
AI’s Future: Clear in the Short Term, Foggy in the Long Term
Hinton’s transformation from AI pioneer to vocal critic illustrates the growing uncertainty surrounding the technology. After leaving Google in 2023 to speak more freely about AI risks, he has become one of the most prominent voices warning of its potential dangers. His groundbreaking work in neural networks even earned him a Nobel Prize last year.
Hinton acknowledges that AI will generate new jobs—but warns that these roles will not match the scale of job losses caused by automation. Still, he cautions against treating any long-term forecast as certain.
Predicting AI’s evolution, he said, is “like driving through fog.”
“We can see clearly for a year or two,” he explained, “but 10 years from now, we have no idea what the landscape will look like.”
What’s undeniable is that AI is here to stay—and experts increasingly say workers who learn to integrate AI into their skill sets will fare best during this transition.
Bernie Sanders: Nearly 100 Million U.S. Jobs Could Be Displaced
Senator Bernie Sanders has attempted to quantify the scale of disruption. In an October report—based partially on ChatGPT-driven analyses—Sanders warned that around 100 million American jobs may be vulnerable to automation.
High-risk sectors include:
- Fast food and food service
- Call centers and customer support
- Warehouse and manual labor industries
But white-collar roles are not immune. Jobs in:
- Accounting
- Software development
- Nursing and healthcare administration
may also face significant downsizing.
Sanders also highlighted the psychological and societal impact. “Work is a core part of being human,” he wrote. “People want to contribute and be productive. What happens when that essential part of life is taken away?”
Senator Mark Warner echoed the warning, predicting young workers may face the harshest consequences—including the possibility that unemployment among recent graduates could spike to 25% within the next three years.
Warner cautioned that failing to regulate AI now would repeat the mistakes made with social media: “If we handle AI the same way—without guardrails—we will deeply regret it.”
