AI’s rapid rise threatens jobs and economic stability within decades

The clock is ticking: AI’s unstoppable progress could leave millions jobless. Are governments ready for the fallout?

, and Administrator

2026 January 5 . 1:05 AM

1 min read

There is a poster in which there is a robot, there are animated persons who are operating the... — There is a poster in which there is a robot, there are animated persons who are operating the robot, there are artificial birds flying in the air, there are planets, there is ground, there are stars in the sky, there is watermark, there are numbers and texts.

AI’s rapid rise threatens jobs and economic stability within decades

Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than many expected, raising serious concerns about its impact on jobs and social security. Experts now warn that AI could replace most human work within the next 10 to 20 years, creating major economic and security challenges. Yet, even the most powerful AI models still struggle to fully match human performance in most tasks.

The rapid progress of AI has left governments and companies struggling to keep up. By the end of 2026, AI systems may handle an entire workday’s worth of research and development tasks on their own. This acceleration could soon make AI cheaper and more efficient than human workers in many areas, risking economic instability.

At the same time, there is a clear communication gap between AI firms and public authorities. Many officials remain unaware of how quickly breakthroughs are happening, making it harder to plan for the changes ahead. OpenAI has responded by creating a new leadership role, the Head of Preparedness, to tackle AI security risks. CEO Sam Altman described the position as high-pressure, focusing on threats like cyberattacks, biological risks, and self-improving AI systems. Despite the warnings, current AI still falls short in most real-world tasks. The most advanced models complete only about three percent of jobs satisfactorily. However, experts insist that society must act now to prepare for the coming transformation—or face severe disruption.

The shift toward AI-driven work is moving faster than many anticipated. Without better coordination between companies and governments, the economic and security risks could grow. Preparing effectively today may help reduce the dangers of an unprepared transition tomorrow.