A recent analysis by Brian Merchant reveals that AI job displacement is not a future concern but a present reality. In his publication “Blood in the Machine,” Merchant documents how companies like Duolingo have already replaced up to 100 workers, primarily writers and translators, with AI systems despite public statements suggesting otherwise.
The job crisis extends beyond language learning apps. Artists, illustrators, voice actors, and journalists report significant job losses to AI alternatives. Economic data shows an unusually high unemployment rate for recent college graduates compared to the general workforce, suggesting firms may be using AI instead of hiring entry-level white-collar workers.
Merchant argues that the AI jobs crisis manifests not as a sudden mass displacement but through gradual attrition in creative industries, declining freelance incomes, and corporations simply hiring fewer humans. He points to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as an example, where “AI-first strategies” are being used to justify eliminating thousands of federal positions.
The impact contradicts initial promises that AI would automate mundane tasks while enhancing creative work. Instead, according to Merchant, creative jobs are being automated while the quality of output suffers. Despite reports that many enterprise AI implementations show disappointing returns on investment, the technology continues to reshape the job market, raising fundamental questions about what kinds of work society wants to preserve.
