AI hasn't caused massive white-collar job loss yet, says Google DeepMind expert

Alex Imas, the head of AGI economics at Google DeepMind, says there's no evidence yet that AI is causing massive job losses among white-collar workers. Even in sectors like software engineering, which are most affected, he sees no big changes.

But Imas warns that if companies feel pressure to lay off workers just to show they're adopting AI fast enough, it could trigger a wave of cuts driven by fear of missing out (FOMO). He worries that such layoffs might actually make companies worse off, as they're done more for image than real need.

Instead, Imas believes AI will boost productivity by taking over some tasks, letting workers focus on what machines can't do. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis agrees that AI can improve efficiency and create new jobs. For now, the predicted widespread job impact hasn't happened.