CEOs are divided over how AI will reshape white‑collar jobs and hiring

Wed, 06 May 2026 19:02:00 +0200

The Wall Street Journal piece highlights deepening disagreement among corporate leaders about how artificial intelligence will affect employment. While some CEOs openly warn that AI could eliminate a large share of white‑collar roles—citing examples like Ford’s prediction that up to half of such jobs in the U.S. may be displaced—others emphasize that AI will mainly change work tasks rather than cut entire jobs. Several executives at major tech and financial firms describe using AI to streamline operations, flatten middle management, and reduce future hiring, often without announcing big layoffs. At the same time, some CEOs argue that AI will create new roles and functions, especially in areas like AI oversight, training, and customer‑experience redesign. The article also notes a growing gap between executives’ optimism about AI‑driven productivity gains and workers’ experience, many of whom say they see little time savings and more time spent correcting AI outputs. Overall, the piece f