A new Stanford study confirms what many workers fear: AI kills jobs, especially for young people. By analyzing millions of workers across thousands of U.S. companies, researchers found that entry-level employees in AI-exposed roles have experienced a sharp decline in employment. Since the adoption of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Replit, early-career workers (ages 22–25) in affected fields have seen a 13% relative drop in job opportunities. The hardest-hit sectors include software development and customer service—areas where AI excels at automating routine tasks.

Why Young Workers Are Most Vulnerable

The study highlights that AI’s impact isn’t evenly distributed. Early-career employees are disproportionately affected because entry-level roles often involve repetitive, codified tasks that AI can easily automate. For example, customer service chatbots now handle thousands of interactions that once required human staff, while AI-powered coding assistants can complete technical tasks once assigned to junior developers. Meanwhile, overall employment in the U.S. continues to grow, but young workers are finding fewer openings as AI reshapes hiring demand.

When AI Augments Instead of Replaces

Importantly, the research notes that not all applications of AI reduce employment. In jobs where AI augments human work—helping professionals work faster or smarter rather than replacing them—entry-level hiring remains stable or even increases. Fields requiring interpersonal skills, creative problem-solving, or physical presence (such as healthcare, education, or skilled trades) are proving more resistant to AI-driven job losses. However, with AI advancing rapidly—moving from solving just 4.4% of coding benchmarks in 2023 to 71.7% in 2024—the window for “safe” roles is shrinking.

The Future of Work in an AI Economy

While it’s clear that AI kills jobs in some industries, the bigger picture is more nuanced. The key factor lies in how organizations apply AI: automation tends to displace, while augmentation tends to empower. For young professionals, this means building skills that complement AI rather than compete with it—such as creativity, leadership, and adaptability. For employers and policymakers, it means rethinking workforce development, education, and support systems to ensure workers aren’t left behind as technology continues to accelerate.