AI could trigger 20% unemployment in the U.S. within five years

The next economic crisis may not be a recession—it could be AI. Experts warn millions of jobs are at risk, but almost no one is preparing for the fallout.

, and Administrator

2026 February 4 . 4:58 PM

1 min read

The image shows a poster with the words "Trickle-Down Economics Doesn't Work" written in bold,... — The image shows a poster with the words "Trickle-Down Economics Doesn't Work" written in bold, black lettering against a white background. The poster is framed by a thin black border, and the text is accompanied by a quote from President Biden, emphasizing the importance of the message.

AI could trigger 20% unemployment in the U.S. within five years

Warnings about AI's potential to cause mass job losses are growing louder, yet little action has been taken to prepare. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, predicts mass unemployment across professional sectors within the next five years. Despite the risks, lawmakers and businesses remain largely silent on the issue. Amodei's latest warnings highlight AI's potential to wipe out jobs in technology, finance, law, and consulting. He estimates U.S. unemployment could surge to between 10% and 20% in just one to five years. Half of all entry-level white-collar roles might vanish in the same period. The problem extends beyond predictions. Layoffs linked to AI are already climbing, matching levels last seen during the 2008 financial crisis. Yet corporate leaders rarely discuss the issue openly. Even former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who has long advocated for AI risk awareness, supports Amodei's grim outlook. Public awareness remains low. Most people underestimate the scale of disruption ahead. Workers will likely only recognize the threat once they face layoffs themselves. Meanwhile, no U.S. government or state has introduced policies to soften the economic blow. Without intervention, AI could reshape the job market faster than expected. No current measures exist to protect workers from the coming wave of unemployment. The lack of preparation leaves millions vulnerable to sudden career upheaval.