Microsoft AI chief believes AI will automate all white-collar jobs in 18 months
Microsoft AI chief believes AI will automate all white-collar jobs in 18 months
Publish Date: 2026-05-17 11:50:00
Source Domain: www.moneycontrol.com
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman has warned that artificial intelligence could automate “most, if not all” white-collar jobs within the next 12 to 18 months, signalling what could be the fastest disruption of office work in decades.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Suleyman said AI systems are rapidly approaching “human-level performance on most professional tasks”.
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He argued that jobs involving computer-based work — from law and accounting to marketing and project management — are particularly vulnerable.
“Most of those tasks will be fully automated by an AI within the next 12 to 18 months,” Fortune quoted him as saying.
The prediction is among the most aggressive timelines outlined by a major technology executive and underscores how quickly AI capabilities are evolving.
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Why white-collar roles are at risk
According to the Microsoft AI chief, the rapid acceleration in computing power and AI model capabilities is the primary driver of this shift. As systems improve, they are expected to outperform humans in problem-solving, coding and routine decision-making tasks.
He pointed to early evidence already visible in sectors such as software engineering, where developers increasingly rely on AI for a majority of their code production, Business Insider reported last year.
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The shift, he suggested, will not be limited to routine tasks but extend to complex professional workflows.
From assistance to replacement
While AI has so far been positioned as a productivity tool, Suleyman’s forecast suggests a transition from augmentation to automation.
Over the next two to three years, AI “agents” are expected to manage workflows within organisations, coordinate tasks and take autonomous decisions with minimal human input.
He also indicated that creating AI systems could…
