Will A.I. Take All Jobs?

David Graeber’s concept of “bullshit jobs” reveals a paradox in our capitalist societies: despite having the technology to automate many mundane tasks, we continue to invent and maintain meaningless, unproductive jobs. In Bullshit Jobs: A Theory, Graeber discusses how a significant number of workers feel their roles exist purely to give the impression of productivity rather than actually contributing to society. Many people in administrative, middle-management, and bureaucratic roles report a sense of purposelessness, feeling that their jobs do nothing to improve lives or advance human potential. These types of roles often make employees feel like their time and talents are wasted, creating a mental toll that affects job satisfaction, motivation, and overall quality of life. Working 9-5 and living for the weekend sucks even more when you know you’re not making any impact on the world.

With the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), however, we’re presented with an opportunity to finally confront this inefficiency. By automating repetitive and unfulfilling tasks, we could potentially redefine work itself, making it more meaningful and less bureaucratic. This exploration of AI’s potential invites a critical look at how automation could dismantle the need for bullshit jobs, freeing up human capacity for more creative, socially valuable work. The question is, are we ready to reshape work around what people find genuinely meaningful? Probably not.

Graeber describes bullshit jobs as roles that even the people doing them consider pointless. This isn’t a rare occurrence confined to a few unlucky souls, either—studies show that these roles are particularly pervasive in sectors that prioritize administrative oversight, redundant managerial positions, or unnecessary bureaucracy. For instance, a 2019 study from the University of Sussex showed that workers who felt their jobs lacked purpose were also more likely to experience lower life satisfaction. Graeber’s analysis suggests that these jobs aren’t just “unfulfilling” in a general sense; they actively drain meaning and satisfaction from the workers who perform them, creating a mental health crisis that’s embedded within the very structure of modern labor. This is not only a waste of human talent but also a serious economic inefficiency, with resources—both time and money—being poured into activities that arguably produce little or no real value.

Enter AI. By automating tasks that are repetitive or devoid of creative value, AI has the potential to reduce the prevalence of bullshit jobs and create more space for work that actually matters. AI could handle much of the routine administrative tasks that currently consume time without delivering value. For example, AI-powered virtual assistants can manage scheduling, respond to basic customer inquiries, and perform data entry, tasks that typically fall to human employees who may find them unstimulating. This kind of automation, if implemented thoughtfully, could ease the burden of tedious work and, in doing so, reduce the need for sprawling administrative staff. A report from McKinsey suggests that nearly a third of all tasks across 60 percent of current occupations could potentially be automated. The implications of this are enormous: a fundamental restructuring of the labor market that could finally free up time for work that feels purposeful. Maybe AI can kill all the BS jobs and leave the good ones for us.

Through machine learning, AI can sift through massive data sets and generate insights, accelerating decision-making in a way that no human manager could achieve. This ability to swiftly process information and suggest process improvements cuts through the inefficiencies of bureaucratic oversight, making organizational structures leaner and more effective. Rather than retaining layers of managerial roles that exist solely to monitor and coordinate, companies could leverage AI’s capacity to manage these tasks autonomously, allowing employees to dedicate themselves to roles where human intuition, creativity, and judgment are essential. AI can also create opportunities for people to focus on work that feels truly meaningful. By relieving employees from the drudgery of mundane tasks, AI gives them more time to engage in work that requires human-specific skills like strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity. This shift, however, requires a significant re-evaluation of skill development in the workforce. As AI takes over routine work, the remaining roles are likely to demand skills that AI cannot easily replicate—critical thinking, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal abilities. Rather than threatening employment, AI could actually serve as a catalyst for cultivating human talent and fostering a workplace culture that values depth over pretending to look busy when your boss is looking.

Yet, this potential transformation isn’t without serious challenges. One of the most pressing concerns is the risk of job displacement. As AI steps into roles that once required human labor, some individuals will inevitably find themselves displaced, especially those who worked in the very bullshit jobs that AI can automate. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2025, automation may replace up to 85 million jobs worldwide. While AI could, in theory, offer an opportunity to transition to a more fulfilling job market, the reality is that millions may be left without a clear path forward unless governments and organizations provide substantial retraining initiatives. Preparing workers for the evolving job market requires a new commitment to education, with a focus on fostering skills in areas where humans continue to hold an edge over AI.

Alongside the economic risks are serious ethical considerations. For one, AI has been shown to perpetuate the same biases that exist within the data it’s trained on, which means that any automated decision-making processes risk reinforcing inequities unless carefully managed. Additionally, AI in the workplace raises questions about privacy, especially when used to monitor employee productivity. Such technologies could easily cross into surveillance territory, further undermining employee satisfaction and creating a sense of distrust.

Another challenge AI poses is its potential to exacerbate economic inequality. The benefits of AI adoption are likely to accrue to those who own and control these technologies—large tech firms, corporate executives, and investors—rather than the broader workforce. Without intervention, this could widen the wealth gap between those at the top and the rest of society, even as workers lose out on jobs. Ensuring that the benefits of AI are distributed fairly, and that access to AI technology and training is equitable, should be a priority if we are to prevent further marginalization of vulnerable groups.

These potential disruptions necessitate a policy response. To harness the positive potential of AI and mitigate its risks, governments and corporations must invest in robust educational and retraining programs that equip workers with the skills they need to thrive in a post-automation world. This means prioritizing skills like AI literacy, critical thinking, and human-centered service, and promoting lifelong learning initiatives that help people stay adaptable as technology advances. Some advocates argue for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a way to provide financial security for those displaced by AI, giving people the freedom to seek out meaningful work, explore creative pursuits, or engage in entrepreneurship without the pressure of immediate economic survival. AI could be a tool for structural economic change, as soon as it kills Sarah Connor.

Ultimately, AI’s impact on the future of work may depend on society’s ability to redefine what it values in a job. Historically, we’ve associated the “worth”” of a job with its economic output, often neglecting roles that contribute to well-being, community, or personal fulfillment. AI gives us an opportunity to reimagine work in a way that recognizes the importance of unpaid roles like caregiving and volunteer work, as well as creative pursuits that enrich culture and foster connection.

In considering this vision for the future, it becomes clear that AI is not just a tool to improve productivity but an opportunity to restructure work itself. AI enables flexible work arrangements, facilitates global collaboration, and could even spur new industries and job categories that we have yet to imagine. The promise of a work environment free of bullshit jobs aligns with Graeber’s vision of a society where employment is meaningful and productivity serves human needs rather than hollow bureaucratic imperatives. AI has the potential to radically alter the nature of work, helping to eliminate the bullshit jobs that plague so many lives today. This transition, however, requires careful planning, ethical frameworks, and proactive policy to manage the inevitable disruptions. By embracing AI thoughtfully, we could move closer to a world where work is not only productive but also genuinely fulfilling, enriching, and purposeful.

Hey Siri, what’s the quote from Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4, Scene 2? “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”