CEO of Microsoft AI gave white-collar workers 18 months before mass replacement by neural networks - ForkLog: cryptocurrencies, AI, singularity, the future

# Microsoft AI CEO predicts 18 months until widespread neural network replacement for white-collar workers

Most professional tasks performed by white-collar workers will be automated within two years. The process will affect employees across various fields such as law, accounting, and marketing, said Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman.

In an interview with the Financial Times, the top executive noted that artificial intelligence is approaching “human-level productivity” in most office tasks.

“White-collar work, where you sit at a computer—whether you’re a lawyer, accountant, project manager, or marketer—will largely be automated by artificial intelligence within the next 12-18 months,” he stated.

As an example, Suleyman cited software development. He noted that Microsoft programmers are utilizing neural networks in most workflows.

“This is already a different relationship with technology, and it has developed literally over the past six months,” added the expert.

Suleyman emphasized that thanks to increased computing power, AI models already outperform most programmers. This technological shift justifies large-scale investments by companies, including OpenAI.

Despite supporting ChatGPT’s developer, Microsoft AI CEO highlighted the need to develop proprietary AI products to enhance resilience and independence.

“We are committed to developing our own advanced models, with gigawatt-scale computing and some of the best training teams for LLMs in the world. This is our mission of technological self-sufficiency,” he said.

Professional AGI

Suleyman expects the emergence of a “professional AGI”—a form of general artificial intelligence capable of performing most cognitive tasks at a human level.

Economists confirm concerns: those whose work is directly related to computers are under threat of automation.

“The professions most at risk are those requiring higher education, higher pay, and primarily cognitive tasks,” noted Tobias Sitsman, economist at Rand Corporation.

Policymakers are also seeking ways to adapt to displacement of human labor. Senator Bernie Sanders has already scheduled a visit to California to discuss this issue with industry representatives.

“Workplace Singularity”

Suleyman’s view aligns with that of other tech leaders. In January, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev stated that AI will not only displace some jobs but also create new jobs, companies, and entire industries.

“We are on a curve of rapidly accelerating job creation. I call this the workplace singularity—a Cambrian explosion not just of new professions but entire families of them across all conceivable sectors,” he said.

Recall that in December 2025, Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton predicted a wave of unemployment due to AI.