Fears that AI could lead to widespread job losses are likely overstated, according to Kate Alessi, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Google.
Speaking to The Times, Alessi said she believes the transformation brought about by AI will follow the pattern seen in previous technological revolutions.
“The reality is that over every period of major technological disruption, we’ve had these fears of mass unemployment, and it just hasn’t proven to be the case,” she said.
“What we also see is that through these times of massive technological change, many new jobs are created.”
As businesses integrate AI tools into daily operations, think tanks, policymakers, and governments have begun to discuss the potential impact the technology will have on the workforce. However, Alessi argues that history paints a more complex picture, one that challenges the prevailing narrative of mass disruption.
AI Adoption Is Accelerating Across the Workforce
The previous waves of technological innovation that Alessi refers to, such as the internet and automation, triggered similar fears to those now surrounding AI.
Yet, she points out, all ultimately led to the creation of new types of work alongside shifting roles. She believes the idea that AI will simply eliminate jobs is misplaced.
Instead, the bigger challenge lies in preparing workers for how jobs will evolve as AI becomes embedded across organizations.
“We think the vast majority of jobs will be amplified or enhanced with AI,” Alessi said.
The rapid spread of AI tools highlights how quickly workplaces are changing. Research linked to Google suggests that around 65% of people in the UK have already used AI tools, reflecting how deeply the technology has entered both professional and personal workflows.
Despite this adoption, most users are still at an early stage. Only a small proportion of workers describe themselves as advanced AI users, suggesting that many are just beginning to explore how the technology can support their work.
Alessi said this gap between usage and capability represents one of the biggest barriers to unlocking AI’s full potential:
“Most people are really only scratching the surface of what these tools can do for them.”
While employees often experiment with basic prompts or simple tasks, many have yet to discover how AI can assist with more complex processes such as analysis, creativity, or decision-making.
Research across global labor markets supports Alessi's view. Studies from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicate that AI is more likely to transform job tasks than eliminate entire roles, particularly in occupations involving routine cognitive work.
