Exclusive: AI could erase 100 million U.S. jobs, Senate Dem report finds
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
AI and automation could eliminate nearly 100 million jobs in the U.S. in the next decade, a report set to be released by Senate Democrats on Monday finds.
Why it matters: As Washington debates how to regulate artificial intelligence, Democrats are centering the potential devastation for American workers.
Driving the news: A ChatGPT-based analysis from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I- Vt.), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, found that AI could wipe out swaths of both white- and blue-collar jobs. The report warns of the rise of "artificial labor," which it says could "reshape the economy in less than a decade."
- According to the findings, 89% of fast food jobs, 64% of accounting roles, and 47% of trucking positions could be replaced over the next ten years.
- The report estimates that nearly 100 million total U.S. jobs could be automated in that period.
What they're saying: Sanders said in a Fox News op-ed Monday that "artificial intelligence and robotics being developed by these multi-billionaires today will allow corporate America to wipe out tens of millions of decent-paying jobs, cut labor costs and boost profits."
Between the lines: Democrats argue that AI's current trajectory isn't just about innovation or productivity — it's about concentrating wealth and power.
- They say that tech executives driving the AI boom are investing billions into automation as a way to reduce labor costs and increase productivity.
- The report cites major companies already adopting AI to trim payrolls: Amazon and Walmart have cut tens of thousands of jobs while expanding automation.
The other side: Republicans have argued that the U.S. should lead the world in AI development and that excessive government regulation could give countries like China an advantage.
Zoom in: The report also takes aim at the Trump administration's AI agenda, accusing it of ceding policymaking to Silicon Valley insiders and prioritizing deregulation over worker protection.
- They say Trump's executive orders roll back federal oversight of AI and threaten to cut funding to states that attempt to regulate AI, effectively giving corporations a freer hand.
What's next: The report calls for policies like a 32-hour workweek, profit-sharing, and a "robot tax."
