A new report led by Senator Bernie Sanders projects that artificial intelligence could eliminate nearly 100 million jobs in the United States over the next decade. The analysis warns of significant disruption across the economy, affecting a wide range of professions from fast-food workers to high-skilled software developers and nurses.
The report, one of the most direct warnings from a U.S. lawmaker on the subject, suggests the scale of job displacement from "artificial labor" may be larger than current estimates. It raises fundamental questions about the future of work and economic stability for millions of Americans as automation accelerates.
Key Takeaways
- A report from Senator Bernie Sanders warns that nearly 100 million U.S. jobs could be eliminated by AI within a decade.
- The impact is expected across all sectors, including fast food, customer service, accounting, software development, and nursing.
- Sanders proposes a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay to mitigate the economic impact on workers.
- The report challenges the idea that new AI-related jobs will be sufficient to replace those that are lost.
Widespread Job Displacement Across Multiple Sectors
The analysis detailed in the report suggests that the impact of AI on the labor market will be broad and deep. It specifically highlights that fast-food and customer service roles could see a reduction of more than 80% as automation and AI-powered systems become more capable and cost-effective.
However, the report emphasizes that the threat is not confined to low-wage or entry-level positions. High-skilled professions are also identified as vulnerable. These include roles in accounting, software development, and even nursing, fields that have long been considered secure career paths.
"Artificial labor could not only put millions of people out of work from their existing job. It could also replace new jobs that could have been created," the report states. "A factory worker who loses their job cannot be told to learn to code if artificial labor also takes the coding job."
This warning aligns with concerns voiced by some technology and business leaders, including Ford CEO Jim Farley and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who have also pointed to significant challenges for white-collar workers. Senator Sanders noted that the 100 million figure might even be an underestimate of the total impact.
The Human Element of Work
In an op-ed for Fox News accompanying the report, Senator Sanders addressed the non-economic value of employment. He argued that work provides a sense of purpose and community contribution. "Work, whether being a janitor or a brain surgeon, is an integral part of being human," he wrote. "What happens when that vital aspect of human existence is removed from our lives?"
A Proposed Solution: The 32-Hour Workweek
To address the potential economic fallout, Senator Sanders is advocating for a significant change to the standard work structure: a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay. The report argues this policy would help distribute available work more evenly and improve the quality of life for Americans.
The proposal is framed against a backdrop of historical productivity gains. According to the report, American workers are over 400% more productive than they were in the 1940s, when the 40-hour workweek was established. Despite this, many are working longer hours for wages that have not kept pace with productivity or corporate profits.
"A 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay would reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life," the report concludes. While it does not specify how the costs would be covered, it points to rising corporate profits and CEO compensation as evidence that companies can afford to adapt.
Industry Leaders on a Shorter Workweek
The idea of a shorter workweek driven by AI is not limited to political circles. Several prominent business leaders have made similar predictions:
- Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has suggested AI will shorten the traditional workweek.
- Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has also predicted that AI advancements will lead to fewer working hours.
- Bill Gates, cofounder of Microsoft, has speculated that humans may eventually only need to work two days a week.
Economic and Societal Questions for the AI Era
The report raises critical questions about how society will function if tens of millions of people are unable to find employment. Sanders specifically asked how displaced Americans would afford essential needs like healthcare, food, and housing in a world where jobs are scarce.
One potential solution discussed by figures like Elon Musk and Vinod Khosla is a universal basic income (UBI), which would provide regular, unconditional payments to all citizens. This idea remains a subject of intense debate among economists and policymakers.
The political response to AI's rapid advancement is varied. Some lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have expressed concern that excessive regulation could hinder innovation and reduce U.S. competitiveness on the global stage. This highlights the central challenge of balancing technological progress with economic stability.
The Distribution of AI's Benefits
A core theme of the report is ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely shared. Sanders argues that without intervention, the immense wealth generated by AI-driven productivity will be concentrated among a small number of tech billionaires who own the technology.
"Bottom line: AI and robotics will bring a profound transformation to our country," Sanders wrote. "These changes must benefit all of us, not just a handful of billionaires."
Despite the stark warnings, the report acknowledges the potential positive impacts of AI. In a notable admission, Sanders' staff confirmed that they used ChatGPT to assist in compiling the list of jobs most at risk of replacement, demonstrating the technology's utility even in the context of analyzing its own disruptive potential.