Ex-Google Exec Warns CEOs: AI May Soon Replace You Too

As the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries, one former Google executive is warning CEOs that they could be the next casualties of the AI revolution.

Mo Gawdat, the former chief business officer at Google X, recently appeared on the Diary of a CEO podcast, where he cautioned corporate leaders that the predicted job crisis driven by AI will not only impact lower-level employees but could also threaten their own positions.

“CEOs are celebrating that they can now reduce headcounts while increasing productivity and cutting costs because AI can do the work,” Gawdat explained. “What they fail to realize is that AI will replace them too.

AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) will be better at everything than humans, being a CEO included. Imagine a time when most incompetent CEOs are replaced by AI.”

Gawdat’s warning comes as AI continues to disrupt various industries. Major companies such as Duolingo, Workday, and Klarna have already implemented layoffs or paused hiring to prepare for an AI-driven future. Meanwhile, industries like fast food and hospitality are embracing automation with contactless ordering systems and kiosk-operated check-ins.

Despite these shifts, Gawdat is skeptical of the widely held belief that AI will create new job opportunities to offset the loss of existing roles. He dismisses this notion as a “dangerous myth,” arguing that the threat of job loss is far more immediate and widespread than many corporate leaders are willing to admit.

“My belief is it’s 100% nonsense,” Gawdat said. “The best in any field—like the best software developers—may survive for a while. But AI will eventually surpass them too.”

However, Gawdat does not blame AI itself for the impending job losses. Instead, he points to the profit-driven mindset of many CEOs, who, in their pursuit of financial gain, are opting for AI technology at the expense of human workers.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with AI,” he said. “The real issue lies with humanity’s values, especially in the age of machines. Capitalism today is focused on labor arbitrage—getting cheap labor wherever possible—and AI is the ultimate tool to achieve that.”