The fear of apocalyptic machines has been displaced by a much more real and closer concern, the advance of artificial intelligence and its ability to leave millions of people unemployed.The concern no longer revolves around science fiction robots, but rather intelligent systems that are transforming the labor market.
During the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Alex Karp, CEO of the American software company Palantir, warned that AI-powered automation is accelerating the disappearance of white-collar jobs and humanistic profiles, a trend that is fueling global alarm about the future of work.
The CEO of Palantir was blunt when pointing out that there are job categories especially susceptible to disappearing in the face of artificial intelligence.The impact is greatest in administrative, support or management tasks, which can be replicated by automated systems.
Among the profiles at risk are:
Microsoft Research, the research division of the technology company founded by Bill Gates, also published a report in 2025 that managed to identify the 40 professions most exposed to disruption by artificial intelligence.Those affected include workers in administrative areas, humanities professions and customer service jobs.
Microsoft also included interpreters and translators, historians, sales representatives, writers, authors, telephone operators, travel agents, announcers, statistical assistants, proofreaders, editors, news analysts, technical writers, educators and data scientists, among others.
During his participation in Davos, Karp clarified that the impact of artificial intelligence will not be the same for all professional profiles.
In his words, jobs based on general or humanistic training will be the most affected, while those with technical skills or specific knowledge will have better adaptation prospects.
The CEO of Palantir maintained that the key will be the workforce’s ability to adapt, as well as the willingness to acquire new skills aligned with technological demands.This vision coincides with that of other experts, who highlight the importance of professional retraining and continuous training to face the advance of automation.
According to Karp, as automation is integrated into the operations of leading companies, many traditional functions lose value in the face of technical skills and specialized knowledge.
The scenario presented in Davos by the CEO of Palantir coincides with the opinions of leaders such as Elon Musk, who also participated in the forum and anticipated a massive reconfiguration of the labor market.
The possibility of large groups of professionals losing their jobs gains relevance in a context where companies like Amazon and Microsoft have carried out mass layoffs to adapt to new automation tools.
Karp’s remarks resonate at a time when much of the global workforce faces uncertainty about the future of their jobs.
Despite the alarm generated by these forecasts, Palantir’s CEO stressed that artificial intelligence will not eliminate all jobs equally and that there are still spaces for human talent, especially in technical, creative and strategic areas.
The evolution of the market will ultimately depend on the ability of workers and institutions to anticipate changes and acquire new skills.
