Artificial Intelligence Layoffs Are Coming for the Karens [WATCH]

Economist Peter St Onge, Ph.D., is pointing to new research suggesting artificial intelligence could significantly reshape the workforce, with a disproportionate impact on certain sectors and demographics.

St Onge referenced a recent study indicating that a large share of jobs vulnerable to automation may be held by women, particularly in administrative and clerical roles.

“A new study predicts 86% of AI layoffs will be women, and not just any women, rich Democrat women, specifically,” St Onge said.

“AI is coming for the notorious Karen, who’s overpaid for what she produces but still needs to CV manager.”

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He explained that the shift differs from earlier economic transformations.

“The reason is, if the Industrial Revolution took jobs from people who work with their hands, AI is taking jobs from people who forward email, schedule meetings, and sit on diversity committees,” St Onge said.

The analysis draws in part on findings from the Brookings Institution, which St Onge cited as estimating millions of Americans could be affected by automation.

“Last week, think tank Brookings issued a new study estimating 37 million Americans are, quote, highly exposed to AI replacement,” he said.

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According to St Onge, the study suggests most workers will be able to adapt, but a significant number may not.

“Brookings thinks four out of five will easily transition into a different role because they have broad skill sets or they’re smart,” he said.

“For example, software finance are on the firing line, but they’ll adapt as automation creates new jobs.”

He continued, “But Brookings estimates there’s about 6 million of those who will not adapt, primarily in clerical and administrative roles.”

St Onge said the distribution of these roles is a key factor.

“What’s interesting is the distribution Brookings estimates 86% are women,” he said.

“They work at big organizations with lots of routine paperwork, so colleges, local governments, federal government, big companies in healthcare.”

He pointed to specific examples in the healthcare and government sectors.

“For example, one in three workers never see a patient. They see paperwork,” St Onge said. “It’s worse with federal workers, who are mostly women going by Doge.”

He added, “Hundreds of 1000s do nothing useful today. Just imagine how useless they will be when AI can do their job for free.”

St Onge also referenced remarks from Palantir CEO Alex Karp during a CNBC interview.

“A recent CNBC interview Palantir CEO, Alex Karp laid it out,” he said. “Quote, If you’re going to disrupt the economic and political power of highly educated female voters who vote Democrat and increase the power of vocationally trained working class males. That is not going to work out politically.”

He cited additional research on how automation could affect job categories.

“So who are these soon to be jobless?” St Onge said. “Karen’s a study by AI company anthropic of Claude fame, thinks AI could ultimately replace 90% of tasks in administrative, clerical and management, over 80% in the arts and media.”

He added, “Also, 80% of law firms don’t let your kids become lawyers.”

Despite the projections, St Onge said historical trends suggest many workers will transition to new roles.

“This all sounds dire, but remember, the adaption software, for example, has been automating for 50 years,” he said.

“So the vast majority of that 80 to 90% will re skill including software, finance, sales and marketing and many managers.”

However, he identified certain occupations as more vulnerable.

“The problems are those clerks and admins, secretaries, sales assistance, customer service, payroll, HR,” St Onge said.

“Heaven help you if you are a DEI consultant who does not know how to flip a burger.”

Looking ahead, St Onge predicted broader economic changes.

“So what’s next?” he said.

“I’ve argued AI will be the opposite of the Industrial Revolution.”

He continued, “Instead of replacing physical jobs, it replaces white-collar jobs with robots, coming decades later.”

St Onge said the shift could lead to changes in income distribution.

“This creates a generation-long blue-collar boom as automation itself makes us rich,” he said.

“But it will absolutely redistribute income and power from high-income, high-education, largely female white collar workers, to the plebs.”

He concluded with a final observation about the potential impact.

“This is terrifying for Karen,” St Onge said. “She already makes less than the plumber. She would make less than the Uber guy.”

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