9 In 10 CEOs Say AI May Cut Nearly 20% Jobs Within Two Years

The fear of AI replacing human jobs is rising as tech layoffs continue around the world. All big tech companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon and others are investing heavily on artificial intelligence. According to data from Layoffs.fyi, more than 1.15 lakh tech employees have already lost their jobs in 2026 across over 150 technology companies. Now, a new survey claims that AI-led job cuts may increase sharply in the next two years.A report by consulting firm Mercer found that almost 9 in 10 CEOs believe AI will replace workers or reduce headcount in the near future. The survey, spotted by TechSpot, included nearly 1,000 top executives and HR leaders in the United States."AI is already driving major organization design changes.

Almost all C-suite executives expect headcount reductions of up to 20 per cent in the next two years as AI substitutes and augments work. In two years’ time, executives expect the proportion of work carried out solely by humans with no AI involvement to shrink from today’s 50 per cent to 35 per cent," the report said.No AI Jobs Apocalypse So Far, Says OpenAI CEO Sam AltmanAccording to the report, many companies believe AI tools can automate routine office tasks, improve productivity and reduce dependence on human workers. Some executives even expect workforce cuts of up to 20 per cent within the next two years.At present, company leaders say nearly 50 per cent of work in their organisations is done completely by humans without AI support however, they believe that number could drop to just 35 per cent in the next two years as AI becomes more common across offices.Jensen Huang Slams Tech CEOs For 'Lazy' AI Layoff NarrativeThe growing use of AI is also increasing anxiety among employees. Mercer’s worker sentiment data shows that the number of employees who say they are 'thriving' at work has fallen sharply.In 2024, around 66 per cent workers said they were doing well in their jobs. By 2026, that figure reportedly dropped to 44 per cent.At the same time, more workers now say they feel stuck in jobs they are unhappy with because of economic uncertainty and fear of layoffs. Despite the massive investments in generative AI, many companies are still struggling to see actual business benefits.