The prospect of widespread automation in white-collar professions has been reignited, with Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman predicting that artificial intelligence could achieve human-level performance on “most, if not all, professional tasks” within the next 18 months. The forecast, initially shared with the Financial Times, encompasses roles in accounting, law, marketing, and project management, signaling a potentially radical shift in the nature of office work.
Suleyman’s assessment centers on the exponential growth of computational power, suggesting that AI models will soon be capable of coding more effectively than human programmers and, by extension, handling a broad range of repetitive tasks currently performed by knowledge workers. This echoes similar warnings issued throughout 2025 by leaders at Anthropic and Ford, who predicted significant displacement in white-collar employment. Dario Amodei of Anthropic warned last May that AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs, while Ford CEO Jim Farley suggested a similar reduction in the U.S. Workforce.
However, the translation of these ambitious timelines into tangible operational changes remains a point of contention. While AI is increasingly being adopted by professional services firms, its impact thus far has been largely incremental. Law firms, accounting practices, and auditing firms are primarily leveraging AI for targeted tasks such as document review and routine analysis, resulting in what has been described as marginal gains in productivity. In some instances, the integration of AI has even led to increased time spent on certain activities; a study of software developers, for example, found that AI tools could increase task completion time by approximately 20 percent.
Despite the slower-than-anticipated pace of wholesale job replacement, evidence of workforce adjustments linked to AI is beginning to emerge. Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a U.S.-based outplacement and executive coaching firm, reported approximately 55,000 job cuts in 2025 potentially attributable to AI. Even when companies refrain from explicitly citing AI as the reason for workforce reductions, internal narratives often point in that direction, fueled by executive pronouncements – such as those made by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella – about a “new era.”
The market is also reacting to the evolving landscape. The recent downturn in software stocks, dubbed “SaaSpocalypse,” reflects concerns that “agentic” AI systems could absorb functionalities currently delivered through software-as-a-service models, potentially disrupting established revenue streams. This suggests investors are anticipating a shift in how software is consumed and valued, with AI-powered automation reducing the need for traditional software solutions.
Suleyman’s statements also carry implications for Microsoft’s strategic direction. The company is actively pursuing “superintelligence” and aiming to reduce its reliance on OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, by developing proprietary AI models. This signals a belief that AI will become a fundamental component of software design, rather than a specialized service provided by a third party. The goal is to position Microsoft as a leading provider of foundational AI technology, enabling businesses to build and deploy customized AI solutions.
The core of Microsoft’s strategy appears to be building a competitive advantage through internal AI development. This move is driven by a desire to control the entire AI stack, from the underlying infrastructure to the application layer, and to avoid being dependent on external providers like OpenAI. The company’s investment in AI research and development is substantial, and it is actively recruiting top AI talent to accelerate its progress.
The debate over the speed and scale of AI-driven automation continues. While the predictions of imminent disruption have been tempered by the realities of implementation, the underlying trend remains clear: AI is poised to transform the nature of work, particularly in white-collar professions. The extent to which these changes will lead to widespread job displacement or simply a reshaping of job roles remains to be seen, but the potential for significant disruption is undeniable. The next 18 months will be critical in determining whether Suleyman’s forecast proves accurate, and what the implications will be for businesses and workers alike.
