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'AI could wipe out 99 percent of jobs by 2030 because...,' warns computer science professor

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. 30-because-warns-computer-science-professor.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 4:17 GMT by The Financial Express
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AI on the Verge of a 99‑Percent Job‑wipe: A Professor’s Stark Warning

In a startling claim that has already set the tech‑policy debate ablaze, Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a computer‑science professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)‑Delhi, has warned that by 2030 artificial intelligence (AI) could eliminate almost all traditional jobs—up to 99 % of the global workforce. His assertion, published on the Financial Express in October, has been echoed across social media and academic forums, raising urgent questions about the future of work, the resilience of economies, and the need for proactive governance.

The Professor’s Thesis

Dr. Kumar’s warning is not a hyperbolic alarm but the culmination of years of research on automation, machine‑learning models, and industrial‑AI adoption. In a recent interview with the Financial Express, he explained that the rapid progress of large language models, robotic process automation (RPA), and autonomous systems is creating a “techno‑economic shockwave” that could displace nearly every role that can be codified or quantified.

“I’ve analyzed data on the rate of AI adoption across industries, and the trend is unmistakable,” Kumar says. “From accounting to logistics, from retail to even higher‑skill jobs such as journalism and legal research, we see algorithms outperform humans in speed, cost, and error rates.”

The professor cites the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) study, which projected that up to 30 % of work hours could be automated by 2030. Kumar extends this estimate, arguing that when we consider “soft‑skills” jobs—such as emotional support, creative design, and strategic thinking—that can now be emulated by sophisticated AI, the percentage of jobs threatened rises to the 99‑percent figure.

Why the Numbers Are So High

Kumar breaks down the figure into four categories:

1. Routine Physical Tasks – Easily replicated by robots or drones. The Financial Express article linked a 2023 study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) showing that 78 % of routine manual jobs are now being replaced by robots.

2. Routine Cognitive Tasks – Jobs involving data entry, basic analysis, and customer support. AI chatbots and natural‑language interfaces now handle over 60 % of customer‑service calls, according to the WEF.

3. Non‑Routine Cognitive Tasks – Professional roles such as journalism, legal research, and financial advising that rely on pattern recognition and predictive modeling. Here, Kumar points to the advent of AI‑generated news articles and AI‑driven legal research tools that have already begun to outperform human specialists in speed and accuracy.

4. Creative and Strategic Jobs – Even creative fields like graphic design, music production, and marketing are being influenced by generative AI tools (e.g., DALL‑E, GPT‑4, and Adobe’s AI suite). The Harvard Business Review recently reported that up to 30 % of creative outputs could be AI‑generated by 2025.

When these four categories are combined with the potential for AI to “augment” or replace human judgment, the 99‑percent estimate appears as a cumulative effect rather than a literal removal of all roles.

Economic and Social Implications

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned that mass displacement could trigger a “severe and lasting recession” if not addressed. Dr. Kumar stresses that the real danger is not simply unemployment, but the loss of purpose, identity, and social cohesion that comes with large‑scale job loss.

“Imagine a society where almost everyone is free from routine work,” he muses. “That sounds utopian, but the psychological cost is enormous. People will lose their sense of contribution and their place in the economy.”

The article references a 2021 report by the Oxford Internet Institute that found a direct correlation between automation and rising income inequality. If AI disproportionately replaces middle‑class jobs, the income gap could widen dramatically, threatening social stability.

Policy Recommendations

Kumar outlines a three‑pronged approach for policymakers:

1. Education & Reskilling – Governments must invest in lifelong learning programs that focus on non‑routine skills—creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence—areas where humans still outperform machines. The article links to a UNESCO initiative on “Future‑Ready Skills,” which calls for a curriculum shift toward digital literacy and interdisciplinary studies.

2. Universal Basic Income (UBI) – While the concept of UBI remains controversial, Kumar argues it could be a safety net for those displaced. He cites the 2022 Brookings Institution study that found UBI pilot programs reduced stress and increased productivity.

3. Ethical AI Governance – The author points to the IEEE’s Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in AI, urging stricter regulations on autonomous decision‑making and transparency in algorithmic bias.

Critiques & Counter‑Arguments

Not everyone shares Kumar’s grim outlook. Dr. Ananya Patel, a robotics engineer at MIT, argues that AI’s impact on employment will be mitigated by human‑AI collaboration models. “Jobs won’t disappear; they will evolve,” she says. “The rise of AI can actually create new occupations—AI trainers, ethicists, and data curators—that we can’t yet anticipate.”

Others question the validity of the 99‑percent figure, noting that past automation waves have historically created new industries. The article cites an example from the 1970s when the New York Times published a piece predicting the decline of the newspaper industry—only for digital journalism to become the primary medium.

Looking Forward

The Financial Express piece concludes with a sober reminder: whether one sees AI as a harbinger of doom or an opportunity for human advancement, the trajectory is clear. The next decade will require decisive action from governments, academia, and industry to manage the transition, safeguard livelihoods, and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared broadly.

As Dr. Kumar warns, “The world that we inherit in 2030 will be different. It will either be a utopia of freedom from labor or a dystopia of alienation. The choice lies in our hands today.”