Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the global workplace at an unprecedented pace. However, former Google X Chief Business Officer and bestselling author Mo Gawdat believes fears of mass unemployment are exaggerated. Speaking at Qatar Foundation’s Education City Speaker Series, Gawdat argued that AI will redefine how people work instead of eliminating entire industries.
“AI will reshape roles, but should not wipe out entire industries or regional economies,” he said.
According to Gawdat, the bigger challenge is not job scarcity but growing inequality. He stressed that economies already face labour shortages in several sectors.
“We have a shortage of workers, not jobs. The real issue is wages and income inequality,” he explained.
His remarks shift the AI conversation away from automation fears and toward the value societies place on human labour.
Qatar academics warn workforce readiness remains a major challenge
While optimism around AI continues to grow, experts say many employees remain unprepared for rapid technological change. Dr. Khaled Harras, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Teaching Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, acknowledged that some concerns about AI replacing jobs are valid.
“The reality is that some of that fear is justified because many jobs will indeed be replaced,” Dr. Harras said.
However, he believes the larger issue involves workforce readiness and adaptability.
“Our current workforce isn’t fully equipped to integrate this rapidly evolving AI ecosystem to become more effective,” he noted.
Dr. Harras added that younger employees often bypass foundational skills, while experienced professionals sometimes resist adopting AI tools. As a result, organisations face a growing skills gap across generations.
AI tools deliver major efficiency gains across industries
Experts also highlighted the productivity benefits AI already brings to workplaces worldwide.
Dr. Harras explained that AI improves access to distilled information and accelerates routine tasks. Consequently, professionals can complete work faster and focus on higher-value responsibilities.
“AI creates massive efficiency gains in summarising emails, drafting presentations, coding, and media production,” he said.
These tools lower entry barriers for many professions. Moreover, they allow workers to spend more time on creativity, strategy, and decision-making.
Gawdat also emphasised that human-centred skills will become increasingly valuable in the AI era.
“Technological change can create opportunities for emotional intelligence over formal credentials,” he said.
He added that AI cannot replace empathy, trust, or authentic human interaction.
“AI is not replacing human connection. Instead, it is amplifying the need for it.”
Future jobs will favour workers who embrace AI
The World Economic Forum estimates that more than one billion jobs could transform over the next decade as AI adoption accelerates globally.
Dr. Harras explained that future workplaces will become deeply AI-assisted. Experts, he said, will increasingly use AI as a collaborative tool rather than simply as software.
“For an expert, AI becomes a peer that handles mundane tasks, allowing humans to focus on creativity, curation, and unique insights,” he explained.
Gawdat echoed the same view and warned workers against ignoring AI-driven change.
“AI isn’t coming for your job. Someone who knows how to use it is,” he said.
According to him, the biggest risk lies in failing to adapt. Workers who embrace AI will thrive in newly transformed roles, while less adaptable employees may struggle.
“What we will see is not mass unemployment, but a filtering process,” Gawdat added.
Middle East faces growing concerns over AI dependence
Beyond workplace disruption, experts also raised concerns about regional dependence on foreign AI providers.
Dr. Harras warned that countries relying heavily on external AI companies could face long-term economic and technological vulnerabilities.
“If a nation doesn’t invest in its own AI capacity, its entire functionality becomes reliant on external entities like OpenAI or Anthropic,” he said.
He described this dependency as a new form of economic dominance that could influence national decision-making and digital infrastructure.
However, he noted that Middle Eastern countries also have an opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems by building strong domestic AI ecosystems early.
Human connection will remain central in the AI era
Despite rapid advances in automation, both experts stressed that humanity must remain at the centre of technological progress. “The future of work is not about fewer jobs, but about better jobs,” Gawdat said.
Dr. Harras shared a similar message and urged societies to rethink how they define work, meaning, and governance in the digital age. “We must adapt not only in how we work, but also in how we define meaning itself,” he said.
He concluded by emphasising that technology should ultimately improve human well-being.
“As the digital world becomes more complex, we must hold even more firmly to our humanity.”
