Mustafa Suleyman, the head of AI at Microsoft, dropped a bombshell in a recent Financial Times interview: most computer-based office work could be overtaken by AI in just 12-18 months. This forecast targets white-collar professions like law, accounting, project management, and marketing, where Microsoft’s forthcoming ‘professional-grade AGI’ promises to handle nearly all routine duties.
Gone are the days when AI merely assisted; now it’s poised to replace. Suleyman highlighted that these systems will perform at a professional level, automating tasks that currently require skilled humans. Microsoft’s goal? Streamline business operations, allowing firms to thrive with fewer staff by offloading repetitive processes to intelligent machines.
In a strategic pivot, Microsoft is prioritizing in-house AI models to lessen dependence on OpenAI, spurred by their latest partnership deal. Looking ahead, Suleyman predicts AI creation will be as simple as blogging today, empowering anyone to build bespoke models.
Global tech giants are acting swiftly. Oracle eyes 20,000-30,000 redundancies to scale AI infrastructure, and Amazon has shed 16,000 positions for similar reasons. Meanwhile, optimism brews in India, where PwC projects a $550 billion economic boost from AI by 2035 across key sectors including farming, learning, power, medicine, and production.
Backed by $1.2 billion, India’s 2024 AI Mission seeks to democratize access to computing power, datasets, and skill-building programs. As automation surges, industries must adapt – reskilling workers for higher-value roles while grappling with the ethical dilemmas of widespread job displacement.