--- title: "\"The labor market will completely disappear\": Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu warns of the superintelligence threat within the next 10 years" description: "Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu warned that if the current course of AI development continues, the traditional labor market could disappear within 10 years. The economist urged redirecting technology toward augmenting rather than replacing humans." date: 2026-10-18T06:55:47.169Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/acemoglu-labor-market-disappear-superintelligence-warning tags: [artificial-intelligence, labor-market, daron-acemoglu, superintelligence, economy, automation] author: "Roman V." publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "The labor market will completely disappear": Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu warns of the superintelligence threat within the next 10 years ![Digital silhouette of a human head with glowing matrix codes and numbers](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/acemoglu-ai-labor-market-disappear-superintelligence-warning/acemoglu-ai-labor-market-disappear-superintelligence-warning-1.webp) ## Key Points - Daron Acemoglu stated that under the unchanged course of AI development, the labor market could completely disappear in the next 10 years - The ultimate goal of the AI industry, according to the scientist, is to create superintelligence that surpasses the human mind - Uncontrolled development of superintelligence carries risks for democratic institutions and state governance - Acemoglu proposed redirecting AI toward increasing labor efficiency rather than completely replacing humans 2024 Nobel Prize laureate in Economics, Turkish-American economist Daron Acemoglu has issued a stark warning regarding the consequences of the rapid development of artificial intelligence. According to his assessment, unless the trajectory of AI technology development is fundamentally revised, the traditional labor market could completely disappear within the next decade. Acemoglu, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), pointed out that the ultimate goal of the artificial intelligence industry is to create a mind that surpasses all human cognitive abilities — so-called "superintelligence". ### Disappearance of professions and contraction of employment In his speech, Acemoglu detailed the scenario that, in his view, awaits the global economy. "If we even come close to such superintelligence, the labor market will completely disappear. As a result, only manual laborers, highly specialized engineers, or a small number of large entrepreneurs will remain," the scientist stated. Thus, most existing professional roles — from analysts and lawyers to programmers and middle managers — could be displaced by automated systems. Acemoglu emphasized that this threat will not arrive "today or tomorrow", but within the next decade, it risks becoming a "bitter reality" that all of humanity will face. ### Risk to democratic institutions In addition to economic consequences, the Nobel laureate drew attention to the political dimension of the problem. According to him, the uncontrolled development of superintelligence carries the risk of the collapse of democratic institutions, which form the basis of state governance and civil society. The concentration of technological power in the hands of a limited number of corporations or states could lead to an asymmetry of influence, where traditional mechanisms of accountability and public control cease to function normally. Acemoglu links this threat to the devaluation of the workforce: when millions of people lose economic significance, the social base of democratic systems weakens. ### Proposed solutions: redirection, not replacement To prevent a global economic crisis, Acemoglu proposed a concrete alternative strategy. Artificial intelligence, in his view, must be redirected: instead of completely replacing humans, the technology should serve as a tool to enhance labor productivity and assist workers. The priority of technological development, the economist argues, should be satisfying human needs and creating new opportunities, rather than leaving millions of people jobless. This approach implies that AI will be integrated into existing production and service chains as an auxiliary element that enhances rather than displaces human capital. ### Who is Daron Acemoglu Daron Acemoglu is one of the most influential economists of our time, specializing in institutional economics and development. He is a fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the US National Academy of Sciences, and the Turkish Academy of Sciences. In 2024, jointly with Simon Johnson and James Robinson, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics "for studies of how institutions are formed and how they affect prosperity." His scientific reputation and institutional affiliation with the world's leading academic structures give his warnings about AI risks additional weight in public discussion. Acemoglu's warning emphasizes that maintaining a balance between human labor and artificial intelligence over the next decade will directly depend on strategic decisions made at the level of states, corporations, and international organizations right now. The issue is ceasing to be purely technological and is rising to the level of global economic and political security. ## Fact-Check & Sources - ["В ближайшие 10 лет привычные профессии исчезнут": экономист раскрыл угрозу сверхвысокого интеллекта – Zamin.uz, 18.10.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/224843-v-blizhayshie-10-let-privychnye-professii-ischeznut-ekonomist-raskryl-ugrozu-sverkhvysokogo-intellekta.html) - The primary source contains quotes from Daron Acemoglu, a description of his scientific status, and the solutions he proposed. All facts in the article are extracted from this source without additions from external data. ## FAQ ### Who is Daron Acemoglu and why is his warning significant? Daron Acemoglu is a Turkish-American economist, MIT professor, and co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics (alongside Simon Johnson and James Robinson). He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and several other leading academic institutions. ### What timeframe does Acemoglu cite for the potential disappearance of the labor market? The scientist points out that the threat will not arrive "today or tomorrow", but within the next decade (i.e., by 2036), it could become a reality if the direction of AI development is not changed. ### What solution does Acemoglu propose to prevent the crisis? He proposes redirecting AI development from completely replacing humans to improving labor efficiency and assisting workers, prioritizing human needs and the creation of new opportunities. ### What does Acemoglu consider the ultimate goal of the AI industry? According to him, the ultimate goal of the artificial intelligence industry is to create a mind that surpasses all human mental capabilities — so-called superintelligence.