New evidence reveals that AI is stealing human employment

[WORLD] The AI hiring revolution is no longer speculative. Shopify, Duolingo, and others have issued a stark mandate: justify every new hire against AI’s capabilities. Recent data confirms that roles with AI-exposed tasks—tech, data, and writing jobs—are disappearing from job boards at double-digit rates. Yet, as some companies backtrack, citing quality concerns, a fundamental question looms: Are we witnessing a permanent shift in white-collar work, or a premature rush to automation that could stifle creativity and customer experience? The answer will shape not just individual careers, but the future of work itself.

The New Hiring Mandate: AI or Bust

Shopify’s CEO Tobi Lutke set the tone in March: managers must now prove AI cannot perform a job before requesting headcount. Duolingo’s Luis von Ahn went further, announcing a gradual phase-out of contractors in favor of AI-driven solutions. This is not isolated—employers across sectors are hiring less, especially for roles where AI can automate or augment tasks. Revelio Labs data shows a 19% drop in AI-doable tasks in job postings over three years, with a 31% decline in hiring for high-exposure roles since ChatGPT’s launch, compared to 25% for low-exposure roles. The message is clear: where AI can do the work, human roles are shrinking.

The trend is reinforced by broader market data. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 estimates that 40% of employers plan to reduce headcount where AI can automate tasks, even as technology creates new roles elsewhere. The result is a bifurcated labor market: tech, data, and administrative jobs are under pressure, while in-person, hands-on roles remain relatively safe—for now.

The Limits of Automation: Quality, Creativity, and Customer Trust

Not every company is doubling down on AI at the expense of human talent. Klarna, after an initial embrace of AI-driven customer service, has reversed course, citing “lower quality” output and the importance of human connection. CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski now stresses the need for “quality human support,” targeting new hires among students and rural populations for remote roles. This pivot highlights a critical tension: while AI can handle routine, repetitive tasks, it often struggles with nuanced communication, creative problem-solving, and building trust—qualities that remain essential for customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

Freelancers in writing and translation have already felt the pinch. After ChatGPT’s launch, writing-related jobs on Upwork fell by 2%, with earnings down 5.2%. Yet, as AI tools become more sophisticated, the risk of over-automation looms: companies may discover, as Klarna did, that AI cannot fully replicate the judgment, empathy, and creativity of human workers. The challenge for leaders is to strike a balance—leveraging AI for efficiency without sacrificing the qualities that differentiate their products and services.

The Future of Work: Augmentation, Adaptation, and Uncertainty

The long-term impact of AI on the labor market is still unfolding. McKinsey projects that AI could add $4.4 trillion in productivity growth, but only 1% of companies consider themselves “mature” in AI deployment. Most expect to use generative AI for over 30% of daily tasks within five years. The World Economic Forum, meanwhile, forecasts 78 million net new jobs by 2030, even as 92 million are displaced—a net positive, but one that masks significant churn and skill gaps.

Skill requirements are shifting rapidly. Demand is surging for AI, cybersecurity, and environmental stewardship, while traditional skills like reading, writing, and manual dexterity decline in importance. The Tony Blair Institute notes that AI’s productivity gains could boost economic growth and labor demand, but the lag between job displacement and new job creation remains a risk. Companies that invest in reskilling and upskilling—focusing on hybrid skills like AI ethics and human-machine collaboration—will be best positioned to thrive.

The most promising path forward may be augmentation, not replacement. AI can empower less specialized workers to take on expert tasks and equip professionals with cutting-edge knowledge, amplifying human potential rather than rendering it obsolete. The companies that succeed will be those that harness AI to enhance creativity, innovation, and customer experience—not just to cut costs.

What We Think

The AI hiring freeze is real, and its impact is already being felt across white-collar professions. But the rush to automate risks overlooking the value of human judgment, creativity, and connection. While AI can drive efficiency and productivity, it cannot yet replicate the full spectrum of human capabilities—nor should it. The most forward-thinking companies will use AI as a tool for augmentation, not substitution, investing in their people even as they embrace new technologies. The future of work will be defined not by how many jobs AI can replace, but by how well we can adapt, reskill, and reinvent ourselves in partnership with machines. As the Klarna reversal shows, quality and trust still matter—and sometimes, only humans can deliver them.