Amazon founder Jeff Bezos believes artificial intelligence will lead to labour shortages rather than make people redundant, pushing back against growing fears that the technology will eliminate jobs.
Speaking at the VivaTech technology conference in Paris, Bezos offered an optimistic outlook on AI and argued that people would continue to find new things to do as technological barriers are lowered.
“I know there’s a lot of concern that many people have, including many smart people, that AI is going to make humans redundant and so on,” Bezos said. “I totally disagree with this point of view. And I think, in fact, AI is going to create a labour shortage.”
His comments come as companies around the world continue to cut jobs after ramping up investment in AI. According to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, US employers announced 97,006 job cuts in May, with AI linked to 40% of the layoffs.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that half of Americans fear that AI could threaten jobs within their households.
Bezos argued that humans have “endless” things to do and that AI would help unlock new opportunities by reducing barriers to creating and building.
The remarks contrast with actions taken by Amazon itself, which has eliminated around 30,000 corporate roles since late last year. Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy has previously said increasing automation through AI tools would result in job losses.
Beyond AI, Bezos also reiterated his long-term vision for space exploration through Blue Origin, saying polluting industries could eventually be moved away from Earth.
“If space travel gets reliable enough and inexpensive enough, and we can get materials from asteroids and near-Earth objects and the moon, then this garden planet can be returned to its pre-Industrial Revolution state,” he said.
Blue Origin chief executive David Limp meanwhile, said reconstruction of the company’s New Glenn rocket launch pad in Florida had begun following an explosion in May.
Reuters
