Alex Imas, Director of AGI Economics at Google DeepMind and an economics professor at the University of Chicago, stated that so far there is no evidence that artificial intelligence has triggered job losses.
During a podcast, when asked whether there has been a disruption in white-collar jobs, Imas said there is currently no evidence supporting such a claim. Nevertheless, he explained that it would be concerning if companies started laying off employees just to appear as though they are adapting to AI.
Potential Layoffs Driven by FOMO Pressure
Imas suggested that some firms might conduct layoffs to show they are not falling behind, which could create a wave driven more by perception pressure than actual performance decline. According to him, in such cases, companies might decide to downsize not because of productivity losses but to give the impression that they are adapting to artificial intelligence.
A Google DeepMind spokesperson emphasized that Imas participated in the program in a personal capacity and that the scenario he described was hypothetical. The spokesperson also noted that Imas’s main message was that current data does not indicate widespread white-collar job cuts.
The same statement referenced previous comments by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who said AI could make workers more productive and create new jobs.
Companies Sending AI Messages to Investors
Imas’s remarks come at a time when executives across various sectors feel pressure to demonstrate to investors and employees that they are adapting to artificial intelligence. Some companies have cited AI as a reason when announcing workforce reductions.
Block and Snap, the owner of Snapchat, are among the companies that have pointed to AI in their recent layoff decisions. Meanwhile, leading AI figures like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warn that the technology could eliminate a significant portion of entry-level white-collar jobs.
However, Imas said he has not yet seen clear job losses even in fields most exposed to AI, such as software engineering. He believes that even if AI automates nine parts of a job, the remaining part handled by humans could make the position more productive.
Imas concluded by reiterating that there is currently no evidence of a "white-collar job massacre."
