Is the Future of Work at Risk? AI Startup Aims to Replace Human Labor Completely

Every now and then, a Silicon Valley startup launches with such an absurdly described mission that it’s hard to tell if it’s real or just satire. Such is the case with Mechanize, a startup founded by renowned AI researcher Tamay Besiroglu, which aims for "the full automation of all work" and "the full automation of the economy."

Mechanize seeks to provide the necessary data, evaluations, and environments to enable the automation of any job. Besiroglu calculated the total addressable market for this venture, estimating that humans in the US earn around $18 trillion annually, with global figures exceeding $60 trillion. While he emphasizes that the immediate focus is on white-collar work, the controversial mission has drawn significant backlash. Critics argue that replacing human labor could have dire consequences for society.

The startup's announcement ignited discussions on X, with many expressing concern over the impact of such automation on human employment. Besiroglu defended Mechanize, suggesting that automating labor could lead to economic growth and higher living standards, although critics point out that if humans have no jobs, they won't have the income to buy the products produced by AI.

Despite the skepticism, Besiroglu argues that wages might increase as humans take on more complementary roles that AI cannot fulfill. However, the vision of a workforce entirely replaced by agents raises questions about the future of human employment and income sources.

Though Mechanize aims to solve legitimate technical issues around AI performance, the challenges of reliability and task execution remain. Major companies like Salesforce and Microsoft, along with various startups, are also exploring solutions in this space. Meanwhile, Mechanize is actively hiring, signaling its commitment to making this ambitious vision a reality.