Geoffrey Hinton, widely referred to as the Godfather of Artificial Intelligence, has sounded a clear warning on the disruptive impact of AI on the global workforce, identifying which professions are most at risk — and the one job AI may never replace.
Hinton, whose pioneering work on neural networks laid the foundation for today’s AI revolution, shared his concerns during an appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast.
The interview, which aired on June 16, explored the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its implications for human employment.
According to Hinton, AI will soon outperform humans in nearly every cognitive task, rendering a vast swathe of intellectual and administrative jobs obsolete. “For mundane intellectual labor, AI is just going to replace everybody,” he said.
The 76-year-old scientist singled out call centers and paralegal services as particularly vulnerable sectors, noting that AI tools already exist that can handle customer queries, process legal documents, and analyze data faster and more reliably than their human counterparts.
“If I worked in a call center, I’d be terrified,” Hinton remarked.
He explained that although some jobs will not disappear entirely, AI will enable a single worker to do what previously required ten people, leading to widespread layoffs even in industries that continue to exist.
While some sectors may adapt through human-AI collaboration, Hinton emphasized that the net effect would still be fewer jobs for people.
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However, he did identify a category of work that may remain safe for years to come: skilled manual labor.
“I’d say it’s going to be a long time before [AI] is as good at physical manipulation,” he noted. “So a good bet would be to be a plumber.”
Hinton’s view reflects a growing trend among Gen Z, who, faced with high youth unemployment and rising living costs, are increasingly turning to blue-collar trades such as plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work.
The former Google executive also warned that the psychological effects of mass unemployment could be just as dangerous as the economic ones.
Even with the introduction of universal basic income — an idea he supports — Hinton fears that people would lose their sense of identity and purpose if they no longer worked.
“People derive self-worth from their jobs,” he said. “Losing that would be devastating, even if their financial needs are met.”
Hinton’s comments add to ongoing debates about how societies can prepare for the accelerating wave of automation.
Some experts argue the fears are overstated, pointing out that AI may augment rather than replace workers. But Hinton remains unconvinced, suggesting that most jobs won’t escape the wave of change.
“There’s almost endless demand in healthcare,” he conceded, “but most jobs are not like that.”
As the global workforce braces for change, Hinton’s insights offer both a roadmap for resilience — and a sobering forecast of the future.
NewsExpress
