Goldman Sachs CEO discusses the impact of AI: AI is more inclined to enhance productivity rather than directly eliminate jobs

Goldman Sachs CEO Solomon wrote in The New York Times that the market's concerns about AI triggering a "massive wave of unemployment" are exaggerated. The U.S. economy will continue to create more new jobs through technological transformation, just as it did during the past industrial revolution and the internet era. Solomon stated that Goldman Sachs expects AI or automation to affect about 25% of existing work hours over the next decade, with significant impacts on white-collar sectors such as banking, accounting, and law. Research from Stanford shows that entry-level positions in highly automated roles like software engineering and customer service have declined by 16% compared to less automated industries.

However, he pointed out that AI is also creating new job demands. For example, since 2022, the construction of data centers in the U.S. has generated over 200,000 construction jobs. Goldman Sachs itself may reduce some compliance and account opening positions but will increase hiring for client-facing roles in banking, trading, and asset management. Solomon believes that AI is more likely to enhance productivity rather than directly eliminate 25% of jobs. He stated, "Technological advancement and cultural change do not occur simultaneously; being replaceable does not mean one will necessarily be replaced." He also called for the government and businesses to jointly promote large-scale job retraining to address the structural changes in the workforce brought about by AI.