Replika founder predicts 'crazy protests' over AI: 'People are really struggling to find jobs'

Eugenia Kuyda, founder and CEO of the AI chatbot platform Replika, has voiced serious concerns regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on employment. Speaking on the Platformer podcast, Kuyda described the anxiety surrounding job losses due to AI as 'justified' and predicted that this could lead to significant public unrest and protests. Kuyda painted a stark picture of the current job market, contrasting the optimistic tech hub she resides in with the harsh realities faced by many outside of it. 'People are really struggling to find jobs, and I think this can only get worse,' she warned. This sentiment reflects a growing apprehension that AI may not generate new employment opportunities as previous technological advancements have done. She highlighted a troubling trend within her own company and the tech industry at large, noting a decrease in hiring for entry-level positions. 'I'm not hiring people anymore for these junior jobs, and I don't know who is,' Kuyda stated, emphasizing the unsustainability of onboarding inexperienced workers in a startup environment. Despite these concerns, Kuyda remains hopeful about the transformative potential of AI in empowering individuals to become creators. She believes that advancements in technology could democratize software development, allowing more people to innovate without the constraints typically imposed by developers and designers. Additionally, Kuyda discussed the possibility that AI could lead to the emergence of new operating systems, suggesting that this might be the first time Apple's iPhone appears vulnerable in the market. 'Maybe there is a way to build a better operating system that's more serving us versus serving companies through the apps they built,' she proposed, indicating a shift in the tech landscape that could redefine user experience and expectations.