Plain English with Derek Thompson The Case Against the AI Job Apocalypse
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May 12, 2026 
Alex Imas, an economist at the University of Chicago who studies behavioral economics and AI’s impact on labor. He questions the AI job apocalypse narrative. They explore why automation fears persist, how technology can create new roles, why relational work resists automation, and scenarios where cheaper AI expands demand and reshapes industries.
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Rhetoric About An AI Job Apocalypse Contradicts Surveys And Hiring Data
- Public warnings of an AI jobs apocalypse clash with data showing most executives expect AI to add jobs or have little hiring impact.
- A 2026 survey of 6,000 C-suite leaders found 70% predicted job growth or no change, and software engineering employment has been growing.
Starbucks Reversed Automation To Preserve Human Experience
- Alex Imas uses Starbucks' automation then rehumanization as a concrete example of reversing automation.
- Starbucks automated service for throughput, then the CEO reinstated more baristas and personalized rituals to recapture the human experience.
Jobs Are Not A Fixed Pie Historically
- The lump of labor fallacy warns jobs are not a fixed pie; automation historically created new job types rather than permanent unemployment.
- Agriculture shrank as a share of GDP while feeding people better, freeing dollars to create modern industries like pet care and services.