Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman predicts artificial intelligence will automate most white-collar jobs within 12 to 18 months. The warning came in a Financial Times interview published this week.
Suleyman identified lawyers, accountants, project managers and marketers as professions facing immediate disruption. He described Microsoft's push for "professional-grade AGI" that could perform nearly all tasks a human professional handles on computers.
The Microsoft executive said AI model creation will soon resemble podcast production or blog writing. Organizations and individuals will develop customized AI systems for specific needs, according to his prediction.
Microsoft currently accelerates enterprise AI development while investing in cutting-edge technologies. The company aims to secure a larger enterprise market share through professional-grade artificial general intelligence.
Suleyman's comments follow increased corporate AI adoption across multiple industries. Companies use the technology to boost efficiency while decreasing operational expenses.
Anthropic's Claude Cowork recently rattled stock markets by threatening SaaS companies like Infosys and TCS. The development highlights growing AI competition in business software markets.
Microsoft plans to focus on its own AI models moving forward, reducing reliance on OpenAI after recent partnership changes. Suleyman called this "a moment when we have to set about delivering on true AI self-sufficiency."
Within two to three years, AI agents will handle large institution workflows more efficiently, Suleyman predicted. He envisions AI customized for every institution and individual globally.
The warning comes as economists document AI's expanding impact on white-collar employment. Goldman Sachs estimates suggest 6% to 7% of U.S. jobs face automation risk currently.
"Ford CEO Jim Farley warned earlier that AI will 'replace literally half of all white-collar workers.'"
Salesforce's Marc Benioff claimed AI already handles up to 50% of his company's workload.
Entry-level hiring in AI-exposed jobs dropped 13% since large language models proliferated, according to Stanford Digital Economy Lab research. Software development, customer service and clerical work remain most vulnerable.
A World Economic Forum report estimated AI, robotics and automation could displace 92 million jobs by 2030 while adding 170 million new roles. The transformation represents a multi-decade workforce evolution.
Microsoft's AI strategy includes healthcare applications beyond office automation. The company recently partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb on AI-driven early lung cancer detection.
FDA-cleared radiology AI algorithms deploy via Microsoft's Precision Imaging Network, reaching over 80% of U.S. hospitals. The healthcare initiative demonstrates AI's potential beyond job displacement concerns.
Suleyman leads Microsoft's push toward what the company calls "humanist superintelligence." The approach emphasizes AI that benefits humanity while avoiding extreme risks.
Microsoft formed a Superintelligence Team to explore advanced AI forms that prioritize human interests. The company aims to increase global GDP growth by 10% through AI-driven productivity gains.
The timing aligns with broader industry warnings about white-collar job displacement. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted AI could eliminate half of entry-level white-collar positions within five years.
Unemployment could spike to 10-20% during that period, according to Amodei's assessment. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg said mid-level coders may become unnecessary within this calendar year.
Microsoft laid off 6,000 workers last year, approximately 3% of its workforce. Many affected employees worked in engineering roles facing automation pressures.
Suleyman's prediction represents the most specific timeline yet from a major AI executive. The 12-18 month window suggests rapid workforce transformation beginning earlier this year.
