Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has dismissed fears that artificial intelligence will replace workers, arguing instead that the technology will increase demand for human labour.
Jeff Bezos believes artificial intelligence will create more jobs rather than eliminate them, pushing back against warnings that the technology could lead to mass unemployment.
Speaking at the VivaTech conference in Paris, the Amazon chief said concerns that AI would make human workers obsolete were misplaced.
Bezos said: “I know there’s a lot of concern that many people have, including many smart people, that AI is going to make humans redundant and so on.
“I totally disagree with this point of view. And I think, in fact, AI is going to create a labour shortage.”
The billionaire entrepreneur argued that AI would remove barriers that currently limit productivity and innovation, ultimately increasing demand for workers across industries.
His comments contrast with recent warnings from figures including former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has suggested that AI is already affecting employment prospects for younger people.
Bezos was speaking about his latest venture, Prometheus, an artificial intelligence company focused on accelerating physical manufacturing processes.
While automation has prompted fears over job losses, organisations including the UK’s Trades Union Congress have argued that AI could deliver benefits if its productivity gains are shared fairly among workers.
The Amazon founder also outlined his ambitions for the future of space exploration.
Describing space as “supply constrained, not demand constrained”, Bezos said expanding humanity’s presence beyond Earth would depend on improving access to space.
He told the audience: “We’re going to the Moon to stay, not just to visit.”
Bezos suggested lunar resources could eventually be used to refuel rockets and support permanent settlements beyond Earth.
The discussion also touched on Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, which suffered a setback after an uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test in Florida in May.
The tech chief said: “It was a gut punch for the whole team.
“But what we’ve learned since then is we got really lucky.”
Blue Origin chief executive Dave Limp said rebuilding work was progressing and launches were expected to resume before the end of the year.
The event also showcased the growing role of AI beyond chatbots, with humanoid robots and brain-computer interfaces demonstrating how humans and intelligent machines could increasingly work side by side in industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare.
Jeff Bezos predicts that AI will lead to more jobs for humans
