White-Collar Workers Embrace AI Despite 61% Predicting Job Displacement in 3–5 Years

A growing number of white-collar professionals are displaying a surprising lack of concern over the potential for artificial intelligence to replace their roles in the near future. According to recent data, 61% of 2,500 surveyed white-collar tech workers believe their jobs—and potentially their entire teams—could be taken over by AI within three to five years. Despite this, most continue to use AI tools at least once a day, integrating them into their daily workflow without visible apprehension [1].

The immediate benefits of AI appear to be overshadowing long-term anxieties. Around 70% of workers report that AI has enhanced their creativity and productivity, while 40% note it has improved work-life balance, reduced stress, and supported better decision-making. This shift in mindset is partly attributed to AI taking over repetitive, mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful and innovative work. Philosopher and psychology researcher Frank Martela highlights this dynamic, stating that AI can free up mental space for creative endeavors by handling routine functions [1].

The current trend aligns with the preferences of younger generations in the workforce, particularly Gen-Z, who value flexibility, purpose-driven work, and reduced monotony. As AI becomes more embedded in office environments, it is increasingly seen as a tool that supports these values. Notably, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon have both speculated that AI could lead to dramatically shorter workweeks in the future—Gates predicting a two-day workweek within less than a decade, and Dimon favoring a three-and-a-half-day schedule. These projections reflect broader optimism about AI’s potential to transform how and when people work [1].

However, amid the optimism lies an undercurrent of uncertainty. While workers enjoy the immediate benefits, the long-term consequences of automation remain unclear. Executives like Ford’s Jim Farley and Amazon’s Andy Jassy have warned that AI could eliminate a significant portion of white-collar jobs, with some corporate workforces already being reduced in response to automation. The reality of mass layoffs in the tech sector serves as a reminder of AI’s disruptive potential, even as its positive effects are being widely experienced [1].

Dallin Hatch, Head of Communications at Udacity, suggests that while the future remains unpredictable, AI may also open up new opportunities for those who learn to harness its capabilities. He notes that younger workers, in particular, may find themselves better positioned to leverage AI as a tool for impact and innovation rather than being sidelined by it. The question remains whether this optimism will hold as automation accelerates and job displacement becomes more apparent [1].

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[1] Most White-Collar Workers Think AI Will Kill Their Job in 3 Years, But Too Busy Enjoying Less Stress to Worry, Fortune, https://fortune.com/2025/07/31/most-white-collar-workers-think-ai-will-kill-their-job-in-3-years-but-too-busy-enjoying-less-stress-to-worry/