Economists Now Fear AI's Looming Job Disruption

Economists who once dismissed AI's threat to the labor market are changing their tune. While most see little current evidence of disruption, they increasingly believe significant job market upheaval could arrive soon, driven by advances like reasoning models and autonomous AI agents. A new survey of economists found that rapid AI progress could accelerate inequality and eliminate millions of jobs, though the timeline and scope remain uncertain. Researchers warn that policymakers are unprepared, noting societies have historically failed to support workers through major technological transitions.