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Speaking at the VivaTech technology conference in Paris, Bezos dismissed concerns that AI would render human labor obsolete, according to Reuters.
“I know that many people, including smart ones, fear that AI will make people obsolete. I strongly disagree with that view. AI will create a labor shortage,” the entrepreneur said.
According to him, humanity is not facing a shortage of tasks, but rather barriers that limit people’s capabilities. Artificial intelligence is capable of removing many of these obstacles and opening up new avenues for work and business.
However, Bezos’s forecast contrasts with current trends in the labor market. According to data from the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. employers announced more than 97,000 layoffs in May. Moreover, about 40% of the layoffs were directly linked to the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies.
Amazon itself has also carried out a large-scale workforce optimization. Since the end of last year, the company has laid off about 30,000 employees, citing increased efficiency due to new technologies.
