AI Threatens to Wipe Out 100 Million U.S. Jobs in the Next Decade, Report Warns
Artificial intelligence and automation technologies could eliminate up to 100 million jobs in the United States over the next ten years, according to a new report released Monday by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.
The report — based in part on data from OpenAI’s ChatGPT — outlines the sweeping economic disruption that artificial labor could bring, affecting both white- and blue-collar professions across nearly every industry.
“The agricultural revolution unfolded over thousands of years. The industrial revolution took more than a century,” the report states. “Artificial labor could reshape the economy in less than a decade.”
Jobs Across Sectors at Risk
According to Sanders’ report, the rise of AI, robotics, and automation could threaten:
40% of registered nursing jobs
47% of truck driving positions
64% of accounting jobs
65% of teaching assistant roles
89% of fast-food service jobs
The report warns that these changes could devastate the livelihoods of millions of Americans who rely on traditional employment sectors that are increasingly being replaced by machines or software.
Major corporations such as Amazon and Walmart have already laid off tens of thousands of workers while investing heavily in automation. These companies — among the largest by revenue in the U.S. — are seen as early indicators of a trend that could soon spread across the economy.
Sanders criticized what he views as a profit-driven motive behind these advancements. In an op-ed published by Fox News, he accused corporate America of using AI to slash labor costs and further concentrate wealth at the top.
“Artificial intelligence and robotics being developed by these multi-billionaires today will allow corporate America to wipe out tens of millions of decent-paying jobs, cut labor costs and boost profits,” Sanders wrote.
He pointed to tech leaders like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Mark Zuckerberg — all of whom are investing heavily in AI — as driving forces behind this transformation. Sanders questioned whether their motives include improving the lives of ordinary Americans.
“Is it because they want to improve the standard of living of the 60% of our people who live paycheck-to-paycheck…?” Sanders wrote. “Maybe. But I doubt it.”
The threat of mass job displacement has intensified the debate over AI policy in Washington.
Senate Democrats, including Sanders, are pushing for tighter regulation, worker protections, and structural reforms — including a 32-hour workweek, stronger union rights, and a “robot tax” on companies that replace workers with machines.
In contrast, the Trump-aligned wing of the GOP argues that America should focus on dominating AI development, warning that China could gain a strategic edge if the U.S. slows down due to regulation. Former President Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of keeping AI leadership out of Beijing’s hands, framing it as a national security issue.
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