#JobLoss

The accelerating replacement of skilled professionals with artificial intelligence isn’t just a theoretical threat—it’s an everyday reality for workers like a former HR manager, a long-time software engineer, and a small business owner, whose stories encapsulate a global trend that could soon disrupt Thai industries and society at large. As AI systems rapidly take over tasks once handled by humans, a growing number of high-skilled employees are reporting job losses, a challenging job market, and an uncertain future, underscoring urgent questions about the fate of white-collar work in the era of automation (The Independent).

A rising tide of AI adoption is reshaping white-collar work around the world. Stories from former HR managers, veteran software engineers, and small business owners illustrate how AI is taking over tasks once done by people. For Thai readers, this is more than speculation—it’s a current shift with implications for the service, technology, and education sectors, and it raises urgent questions about the future of work in Thailand.

Thailand’s economy leans on services, which account for a large share of GDP, and a young, increasingly digital workforce. The global trend toward automation underscores the need for adaptation. As in the United States, many professionals report job losses and a tougher job market. The refrain from laid-off workers—“AI is a better programmer than me”—resonates with Thai tech students and professionals who are watching automation edge closer to daily operations.

A recent story making headlines reveals the sobering fallout of artificial intelligence’s relentless advance: a seasoned software engineer, once commanding a $150,000 annual salary, found himself abruptly replaced by AI, rejected from over 800 subsequent job applications, forced to drive for DoorDash and live in a trailer just to make ends meet (yahoo.com). His words echo a growing sentiment: “AI obsolescence is coming for basically everyone in due time.”

This account is not simply a tale of individual struggle; it is the latest bellwether of a seismic shift reverberating through the global workforce. For readers in Thailand, this signals an urgent need to examine our own societal preparation for the age of AI—a transformation that extends far beyond Silicon Valley.

A striking story about AI disruption is traveling across borders: a veteran software engineer once earning a six-figure salary found himself displaced by AI, facing hundreds of job rejections, and turning to gig work to survive. The human toll is real and echoes a broader shift impacting workers worldwide. For Thai readers, this highlights the urgent need to plan for an AI-enabled economy that touches every sector, from health and education to culture and tourism.