Microsoft AI Chief Predicts Widespread White-Collar Job Automation

February 12, 2026 Priya Shah – Business Editor Business

Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman predicts most white-collar jobs will be fully automated within the next 12 to 18 months, according to an interview with the Financial Times published Wednesday.

Suleyman, speaking to the FT, described a shift toward “professional-grade AGI” – artificial general intelligence – capable of performing tasks currently handled by professionals in fields like law, finance, and marketing. He anticipates AI will soon handle routine knowledge work across these sectors. “White-collar jobs – those sitting in front of computers, whether lawyers, accountants, project managers, or marketers – most of these tasks will be fully automated by AI within the next 12 to 18 months,” Suleyman said.

The Microsoft AI chief indicated the company is actively pursuing “true AI self-sufficiency,” signaling a move to reduce reliance on OpenAI, with whom Microsoft has a significant partnership. This shift, he suggested, will allow Microsoft to debut modern in-house AI models in 2026.

Suleyman also predicted that creating new AI models will become significantly easier, stating, “Creating a new model will be as simple as making a podcast or writing a blog.” He envisions a future where AI can be tailored to the needs of individuals and institutions globally.

This assessment aligns with growing concerns about the potential for widespread job displacement due to advancements in AI. Recent reports indicate a phenomenon of “AI fatigue” among software engineers, where increased productivity enabled by AI tools is coupled with heightened workloads and exhaustion, according to TechSpot.

Other AI leaders have voiced similar warnings. Stuart Russell, a computer scientist and co-author of a leading AI textbook, has stated that political leaders are considering the possibility of “80% unemployment” as AI capabilities expand to encompass roles currently held by surgeons and CEOs. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, previously warned that AI could eliminate half of entry-level white-collar jobs, emphasizing a responsibility to be transparent about the potential impact of the technology.

Suleyman highlighted that the trend toward AI-assisted work is already visible in software engineering, where AI-assisted coding is now used for the majority of code production. He characterized this as a fundamentally different relationship with technology, one that has emerged rapidly in the last six months.

Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment regarding Suleyman’s statements.