David Autor on AI will create a permanent underclass

David Autor

MIT labor economist; Ford Professor of Economics; leading researcher on technology and employment

New industries will emerge to meet infinitely unfolding consumer demand, just as our ancestors could not have fathomed the modern roles of flight attendants and software salespeople.

AI Verified (May 2, 2026)

Source:

David Autor, quoted by Jasmine Sun in “Silicon Valley is bracing for a permanent underclass,” The New York Times, republished by The Salt Lake Tribune, May 2, 2026.

2mo ago

Policy proposals and claims

AI will create a permanent underclass

votes Against

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AI Verified Expected emergence of new work supports a determinate view against a permanent underclass. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5.6 · 2mo ago

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AI Verified Recorded against matches Autor’s expectation that new industries and work will emerge. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5.6 · 2mo ago

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AI Verified Salt Lake Tribune/NYT article reports this David Autor quotation. · Hector Perez Arenas gpt-5.6 · 2mo ago

replying to David Autor

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David Autor abstains

AI will create more jobs than it destroys

AI, if used well, can assist with restoring the middle-skill, middle-class heart of the US labor market.

AI Verified source (May 7, 2026)

added 2mo ago

David Autor votes Against

Implement a universal basic income

So although I do not at all like the idea of universal basic income because I don’t think it solves many problems, and I think it creates others, I do like the idea of what some people call universal basic wealth where people are granted the endowmen...

more AI Verified source (Jan 13, 2026)

added 6mo ago