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Microsoft AI Chief: Most White-Collar Jobs Automated in 12-18 Months

Microsoft's AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman warns that most white-collar computer-based jobs could be fully automated within 12 to 18 months. He states Microsoft is racing to develop "professional-grade AGI" capable of performing nearly all human professional tasks. This shift represents structural displacement across knowledge professions, not just incremental productivity gains. Concurrently, major tech firms like Oracle and Amazon are restructuring with significant layoffs to expand AI capabilities.

Key Points: AI to Automate Most White-Collar Jobs in 18 Months: Microsoft

  • AI to automate lawyers, accountants, managers
  • Microsoft building professional-grade AGI
  • Shift from productivity gains to job displacement
  • India AI Mission launched with $1.2B
2 min read

Most white-collar jobs to be automated in 12-18 months: Microsoft AI Chief

Microsoft's AI chief warns most computer-based professional roles could be fully automated by AI within 12-18 months, signaling massive job displacement.

"most of those tasks will be fully automated by an AI within the next 12 to 18 months - Mustafa Suleyman"

New Delhi, Feb 13

Chief of artificial intelligence at Microsoft, Mustafa Suleyman, has warned that most white‑collar roles that rely on computers could be automated within the next 12 to 18 months.

He informed that the company is building a "professional‑grade AGI", that could automate majority of works done by lawyers, accountants, project managers and marketers.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Suleyman said Microsoft is racing to develop "professional‑grade AGI", AI systems capable of performing nearly everything a human professional can do. He said the current shift in AI landscape would go beyond incremental productivity gains to produce structural displacement across knowledge‑based professions.

"White-collar work, where you're sitting down at a computer, either being a lawyer or an accountant or a project manager or a marketing person, most of those tasks will be fully automated by an AI within the next 12 to 18 months," the report quoted Suleyman as saying.

He described Microsoft's strategy to capture a larger share of the enterprise market by automating routine and repeatable tasks such as document drafting, data analysis and project coordination that currently require skilled employees.

He informed about Microsoft's plans to increase AI model productions to reduce reliance on OpenAI, following a revised agreement between the two companies.

Further, he said "creating a new model will be as simple as making a podcast or writing a blog," adding that institutions and individuals could design AI tailored to their specific needs.

US tech giant Oracle plans to cut 20,000 to 30,000 jobs to expand its AI data‑centre capacity, while Amazon recently announced lay off 16,000 employees as part of its AI restructure plan.

A recent report from PwC India said artificial intelligence could contribute nearly $550 billion to India's economy by 2035, across five priority sectors including agriculture, education, energy, healthcare and manufacturing.

The India AI Mission, launched in 2024 with a $1.2 billion funding, democratised access to computing resources, datasets, and talent development.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
On one hand, the PwC report talks about $550 billion contribution, on the other, we hear about massive layoffs. It feels contradictory. Yes, AI will create new jobs, but the transition period will be brutal for millions. We need to focus on becoming AI creators, not just users who get replaced.
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Aman W
The timeline of 12-18 months seems too aggressive for India. Our corporate adoption is slower, and many processes are still manual. But it's a wake-up call! We should use this warning to upskill aggressively. Maybe this pushes us towards more creative and strategic roles. 🤔
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Sarah B
As someone working in project management for a US client, this hits close to home. The part about automating project coordination is very real. The key is to learn to work *with* AI, not against it. Tools like Copilot are already changing how we work daily.
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Karthik V
Respectfully, I think the Microsoft chief is overhyping this to drive their own enterprise sales. Complete automation of a lawyer's or marketer's job in 18 months? Not happening in the real world, especially in India where client relationships and local nuance matter so much. AI is a tool, not a replacement.
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Nisha Z
The India AI Mission's $1.2 billion funding is a good start, but is it enough? Democratising access is crucial so that small businesses and startups in tier-2 cities can also adapt. We can't let this become another tech divide between the haves and have-nots. Jai AI, but with a plan for people!

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