AI Could Wipe Out 100 Million U.S. Jobs: Senator Sanders Issues Stark Warning

The AI Job Apocalypse Is Here

AI isn't just targeting low-wage or entry-level positions—it could eliminate nearly 100 million jobs across the United States over the next decade. This alarming prediction comes from a new Senate report by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), which warns that "artificial labor" could disrupt the economy faster than society is prepared for.

Which Jobs Are Most at Risk?

Fast-food and customer service workers could see more than 80% of their roles disappear, while even high-skilled professions like accounting, software development, and nursing face significant cuts. Business leaders including Ford CEO Jim Farley and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have echoed concerns about white-collar job losses, but Sanders' report represents one of the strongest warnings from Capitol Hill about AI's threat to employment.

The Human Cost of Automation

"It's not just economics," Sanders wrote in a Fox News op-ed accompanying the report. "Work, whether being a janitor or a brain surgeon, is an integral part of being human. The vast majority of people want to be productive members of society and contribute to their communities. What happens when that vital aspect of human existence is removed from our lives?"

Who Benefits From AI Replacement?

Tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg stand to profit most from AI as technology replaces more expensive human labor. The report criticized the notion that AI will create new job opportunities, noting that "a factory worker who loses their job cannot be told to learn to code if artificial labor also takes the coding job."

The Future of the Workweek

There's surprising agreement between Sanders and business leaders on one point: AI could eliminate the need for a 40-hour workweek. Executives from Nvidia's Jensen Huang to JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon have predicted AI will shorten traditional work schedules, while Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates suggested workers may only need to work two days per week within the next decade.

Sanders' Proposed Solution

To ease the transition, Sanders is proposing a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay. "Today, American workers are over 400% more productive than they were in the 1940s. Yet, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages than they were decades ago," the report stated.

The Political Divide on AI Regulation

While some Republican lawmakers advocate for a hands-off approach to avoid stifling innovation, Sanders emphasized that AI transformation must benefit everyone, not just a handful of billionaires. The senator acknowledged AI will bring productivity benefits but stressed the need for equitable distribution of those gains.