After 30,000 Layoffs, World's Fourth-Richest Man Predicts Labour Shortage Due to AI
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has expressed a view contrary to widespread concerns about artificial intelligence (AI). Bezos, ranked the world’s fourth-richest person with a fortune of US$248 billion (Rp4,418 trillion) according to Forbes, predicts AI will trigger a labour shortage rather than replace human workers.
His remarks were made during an appearance at the VivaTech technology conference in Paris, France, on Wednesday (17/6). He outlined his vision for the future of technology, including his space venture Blue Origin and his latest AI startup, Prometheus, which focuses on accelerating physical manufacturing processes.
“I know there is a lot of concern from many people, including many smart people, that AI will make humans no longer needed and so on,” Bezos said, as quoted by Reuters on Thursday (18/6/2026). “I completely disagree with that point of view. And I think, instead, AI will create a labour shortage.”
Bezos’s statement comes as many global companies have cut thousands of jobs after pouring large investments into AI development. Many firms, particularly in the technology sector, link the layoffs to efficiency gains driven by the rapid adoption of AI.
A report by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed that companies in the United States announced 97,006 job cuts in May, with approximately 40% attributed to the use of AI. Public anxiety over AI’s impact on employment is also mounting. A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found that half of Americans worry that AI advances could cost them or a family member their job.
Resistance to AI adoption has emerged across various sectors. From young people newly entering the job market to labour unions in the South Korean automotive industry and Hollywood scriptwriters, many are voicing concerns over the technology’s impact.
However, Bezos believes that human jobs and needs are inexhaustible. According to the world’s fourth-richest man, with a fortune of around US$250 billion, AI will instead help remove various barriers that have long limited human productivity.
This view is particularly striking given that Amazon itself has cut around 30,000 employees since late last year. Some of these workforce reductions occurred due to efficiency improvements driven by AI. Previously, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy also acknowledged that increased automation through various AI tools would lead to a reduction in certain jobs within the company.