AI will not lead to mass permanent unemployment

Rapid advances in AI have fueled fears of mass job losses. Enterprises shifting focus from generative to agentic AI, which promises meaningful returns on AI investments, have only intensified this anxiety. In 2025, companies such as Amazon, IBM, and Salesforce announced layoffs citing AI. Q1 2026 picked up where 2025 left off, with firms, including Block, WiseTech Global, and Livespace, also pointing to AI as a factor in job cuts. Although sceptics argue that the technology has been used as a cover for tr ...