Microsoft's AI chief Mustafa Suleyman has declared that all computer-based work will be automated by artificial intelligence within 12 to 18 months. Simultaneously, Silicon Valley CEOs are increasingly using AI to write code and build products themselves, then questioning why their teams are slower. White-collar roles in accounting, law, marketing, and project management are expected to be the first affected. Employers are using AI to raise performance standards, with those unable to keep pace facing elimination. Blue-collar and judgment-based skills are becoming the most valuable assets in the AI era.
Suleyman made these remarks during a Financial Times interview, stating that AI will achieve human-level performance in most professional tasks. While some may dismiss his prediction, Wall Street has already reacted with alarm.
Prior to Suleyman's comments, a massive sell-off dubbed "SaaSpocalypse" wiped hundreds of billions from global software stocks. The downturn was triggered by Anthropic's release of Claude Cowork, an AI tool capable of handling legal reviews, customer relationship management, and data analysis—tasks previously requiring expensive software and multiple employees. Within 48 hours, software companies saw dramatic declines: Atlassian fell 35%, Intuit dropped 34%, Thomson Reuters lost 16%, and LegalZoom plunged 20%. The iShares tech software ETF has declined 20% this year, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 16%, indicating a shift from software investments to tangible assets.
Meanwhile, Silicon Valley executives are embracing AI to enhance their own capabilities. Insilico Medicine CEO Alex Zhavoronkov described using Claude Code as "heaven," noting he can now create prototypes instantly rather than waiting weeks for engineering teams. Formic founder Saman Farid developed an automation tool overnight that handles 80% of his team's work, stating he uses it to "shame" them. Box CEO Aaron Levie reported founders now compete over who can build products fastest, calling it the "happiest time" of his life.
This trend reflects a new management philosophy termed "DIY CEO," where leaders personally develop products using AI then challenge their teams' productivity. Former Dropbox CTO Aditya Agarwal observed that founders will use AI to demand higher performance from employees.
The discussion gained broader attention when AI entrepreneur Matt Shumer published a viral post titled "The Big One Is Coming," comparing the current AI transition to early pandemic warnings. Shumer argued that AI has evolved from assisting with code completion to functioning as an end-to-end worker. OpenAI's Sam Altman expressed concern about his life's work depreciating monthly, while Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted AI could eliminate half of entry-level white-collar jobs. Ford CEO Jim Farley anticipates similar reductions in U.S. white-collar positions, and Elon Musk suggested AGI might arrive this year.
However, reality appears more complex than predictions. A 2025 Thomson Reuters report found limited productivity gains from AI in legal and auditing fields, while a METR study showed software developers taking 20% longer with AI tools. Apollo Global Management's Torsten Slok noted that while major tech companies saw over 20% profit growth in Q4 2025, the broader Bloomberg 500 index remained stagnant, suggesting AI benefits remain concentrated within the tech sector.
Critics argue Suleyman conflates task automation with job automation—replacing some tasks doesn't necessarily eliminate entire roles. The San Francisco Standard observed that disruption speed depends on the slowest factors like organizational change and regulatory approval, not technological advancement alone.
Suleyman's broader ambition involves developing Autonomous Superintelligence (ASI) at Microsoft, creating foundation models independent of OpenAI. He envisions a future where creating AI models becomes as easy as recording podcasts, allowing every organization and individual to have customized AI. This could dismantle knowledge monopolies—making lawyers and marketing teams unnecessary when AI can produce ten contract or strategy versions in minutes.
Yet this transformation devalues traditional education pathways like law degrees and MBAs. Extreme Programming founder Kent Beck noted that while technical skills like syntax and debugging become obsolete, judgment skills—knowing what to build and evaluating outcomes—grow exponentially in value.
Microsoft's recent layoffs of 15,000 employees reflect CEO Satya Nadella's call to "reimagine the company's mission for a new era." Meanwhile, more American youth are pursuing blue-collar careers like plumbing, electrical work, and nursing—hands-on professions less vulnerable to AI disruption.
Whether Suleyman's 18-month prediction proves accurate or represents another tech hype cycle remains uncertain. What is clear is that as executives enjoy coding with AI, they're experiencing newfound independence from human employees.