Workers around the world received confusing and sometimes scary news this week about how artificial intelligence will change their jobs. The biggest headlines came from very different studies that painted opposite pictures of the future.

The Scary Predictions

On October 6th, US Senator Bernie Sanders released a major report with alarming numbers. The report claimed that AI could replace nearly 100 million jobs in America alone over the next ten years. This isn't just about robots in factories. The report said that 89% of fast food workers, 83% of customer service workers, and 81% of warehouse workers could lose their jobs to AI. Even skilled jobs like accounting (64% at risk) and truck driving (47% at risk) made the list.

The report explained that AI isn't just taking existing jobs. It's also replacing jobs that haven't been created yet. A factory worker who loses their job can't simply "learn to code" if AI is also taking coding jobs. This creates a serious problem for workers trying to plan their futures.

Some business leaders agree with these dark predictions. The CEO of Anthropic, a major AI company, said earlier this year that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, potentially pushing unemployment to 10% or 20%. The CEO of Klarna announced this week that his company has already cut its workforce in half using AI, and he warned that other tech leaders are sugarcoating how bad the impact will be.

The Hopeful Counter-Argument

But on October 10th, a completely different study emerged. The Society for Human Resource Management surveyed 20,000 American workers and found much less dramatic results. While the study confirmed that AI is automating tasks in many jobs, it found that only about 6% of jobs actually face real risk of disappearing.

The key difference? The study explained that even when AI can do half the tasks in a job, non-technical barriers protect many positions. These barriers include the need for human interaction, creativity, judgment, and oversight. James Atkinson from SHRM said AI "may not result in the types of job displacement that some are suggesting".

What Workers Are Actually Experiencing

Workers themselves are caught in the middle of this debate, feeling anxious and uncertain. A study of frontline workers (people like nurses, retail workers, and food service employees) revealed interesting patterns about their fears and experiences.

The study found that 65% of frontline workers believe their biggest threat isn't AI itself, but other employees who have learned to use AI. This creates a skills race where workers feel pressure to learn new technology or risk being left behind. One in three frontline workers fear AI might replace their job, and one in five expect their job to be completely replaced within five years.

However, the study also found a silver lining. Workers who actually use AI in their daily jobs report feeling 41% burned out, compared to 54% burnout among workers who don't use AI. This suggests that AI might actually make work easier and less stressful when used properly. Additionally, 85% of workers said that replacing the frontline workforce with AI would be a huge mistake.

The Entry-Level Job Crisis

One of the most concerning trends this week involves young people trying to start their careers. Multiple reports documented that entry-level jobs are disappearing faster than other positions. Major accounting firms have cut graduate hiring by 6% to 29% in just one year because AI can now handle basic data work.

This creates a "broken ladder" problem. If companies eliminate entry-level positions, young workers can't gain experience. One business owner explained: "If there are no juniors now, who replaces me when I retire?". The problem affects fields like accounting, marketing, coding, and customer service - all areas where young people traditionally started their careers.

The Global Picture

AI's impact varies significantly by country. Workers in India use AI the most (84%), followed by Mexico (52%) and Australia (39%). The US and Canada lag behind at only 27% each. This suggests that workers in different countries face very different challenges and opportunities.

What Workers Can Do

Despite the fear and uncertainty, workers are taking action. Nearly half of surveyed workers said their fear of AI has motivated them to learn new skills or take on extra projects. The UK government reported that 71% of AI companies expect to need more skilled workers in the coming year.

The message is clear: AI literacy is becoming essential for almost all workers, not just technical specialists. Companies are responding by retraining employees, and when AI saves time, most are redirecting workers to new activities rather than eliminating positions. However, larger companies are more likely than smaller ones to cut jobs when automation occurs.

The truth probably lies somewhere between the extreme predictions. AI will certainly change work dramatically, but whether it destroys jobs or creates new opportunities may depend largely on how companies, governments, and workers themselves respond to these changes.