The Corporate AI Lie: Why ‘Efficiency’ is Just Code for Fewer Jobs

Artificial intelligence (AI) is commonly touted as the holy grail for corporate success. Efficiency, productivity, and innovation are all promised to skyrocket if companies embrace AI. The corporate world tells us that AI is the key to improving operations, reducing costs, and giving customers a smoother, more personalised experience. But here’s the hard truth that no one wants to talk about: ‘Efficiency’ is nothing more than a euphemism for fewer jobs.

Before we dive in, let's be clear: AI has the potential to revolutionise industries. It can automate tedious tasks, streamline operations, and make data-driven decisions faster than any human could. But when big corporations claim AI is all about ‘efficiency’, they’re hiding something—something that could fundamentally alter the way we work, and it’s not the shiny future they want us to believe in.

The 'Efficiency' Argument: A Shiny Facade

Let’s start with the buzzword—efficiency. Efficiency sounds like the kind of thing we should all want, right? We hear it in the news, in boardrooms, and from CEOs in shiny suits: “We’re introducing AI to drive efficiency.” The reality, though, is that ‘efficiency’ in the corporate world doesn’t mean what it’s often made out to be.

When companies talk about AI making them more efficient, what they really mean is that AI will help them do more with fewer people. It's about cutting down on labour costs. It's about eliminating the need for human workers in roles that AI can handle better, faster, and at a fraction of the cost.

Take the example of customer service. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are now commonplace. They’re being hailed as tools that make interactions faster and more convenient. But if we look closer, it’s clear that they’re replacing actual human beings. According to a report by McKinsey, AI could automate up to 25% of jobs in the next decade, and guess which roles are most at risk? Customer support, data entry, and other manual tasks that have traditionally employed millions.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Jobs Are Disappearing

It’s not just a hunch—it's happening, and it's happening fast. Between 2000 and 2018, around 4.6 million manufacturing jobs disappeared in the U.S. alone. Why? Automation, AI, and robotics. And this trend isn’t limited to factories; it’s affecting every industry, from retail to finance. A recent study by PwC revealed that AI could replace 30% of jobs in the UK by the early 2030s.

Think about that for a second. In the not-so-distant future, millions of workers across the world will be replaced by machines. Not because the machines are inherently better at everything, but because companies want to cut costs and increase profits. AI is being sold to us as the answer to everything, but the only thing it’s really answering is how to make humans obsolete.

The Lie of “Upskilling” and “Job Creation”

Here’s where the corporate AI narrative gets even murkier. We’re being told that while some jobs may disappear, new ones will be created. But is this really happening?

In theory, AI should lead to new job opportunities. After all, machines can’t do everything. They need to be built, maintained, and improved. We need data scientists, AI developers, and engineers to make the whole thing work. The problem, however, is that the jobs being created in the AI space require highly specialised skills. You won’t be training your average retail worker or call centre agent to become an AI architect overnight.

Furthermore, those ‘new jobs’ aren’t going to be anywhere near as widespread as the jobs that will be lost. For every AI specialist needed, there are thousands of workers at risk of losing their jobs to automation. The ratio just doesn’t add up.

And then there’s the upskilling argument. The idea is that workers can be trained in new AI-driven skills to stay relevant in the job market. But let’s get real—upskilling isn’t some magic solution. It's a band-aid on a gaping wound. Many workers simply don’t have the time, resources, or support to retrain for new roles, especially when the nature of those roles is so highly technical and specialised.

Moreover, even if workers could be upskilled, would there really be enough jobs to go around? Not if the corporate world continues to prioritise efficiency over human labour.

Efficiency = Elimination of Workers, Not More Jobs

Let’s be clear: the promise of AI-driven efficiency is not about improving the working conditions for the majority of people. It’s not about making workers' lives easier, healthier, or more fulfilling. It’s about eliminating the need for human workers altogether.

Take retail as an example. AI-powered self-checkout systems are already replacing cashiers in stores. Amazon is pushing the envelope with its cashier-less stores, where customers can pick up items and walk out without ever talking to a human being. In the name of ‘efficiency’, entire categories of jobs are disappearing. It’s not about making the experience more enjoyable for the customer or improving the service—it’s about cutting payroll.

In the same way, industries like transportation and logistics are rapidly being transformed by AI. Autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots are poised to replace human workers in sectors that employ millions. Is this ‘progress’? Or is it just a convenient excuse to save money at the cost of people’s livelihoods?

The Human Cost of ‘Efficiency’

Here’s where the real kicker lies. The relentless push for efficiency through AI isn’t just about job losses—it’s about what happens to the people who are displaced.

AI might make companies more efficient, but it also erodes communities. Entire sectors could be wiped out, leaving workers with nowhere to go. People who have spent decades in an industry suddenly find themselves unemployable, or forced to compete for a fraction of the opportunities that remain.

The loss of work isn’t just about losing a paycheck—it’s about losing purpose, identity, and social connections. Work isn’t just a means of survival. It’s how people engage with the world, contribute to society, and build their lives. When companies remove that opportunity, they’re not just eliminating jobs—they’re taking away a core part of what it means to be human.

The Truth We Need to Face

AI is not the villain here. It’s how it’s being used that we need to be concerned about. The corporate world doesn’t see AI as a tool for improvement or progress—it sees it as a tool for maximising profit by slashing human labour costs. AI isn’t here to make our lives better; it’s here to make companies more efficient at the expense of workers. And this is the corporate AI lie we need to wake up to.

The promise of AI-driven ‘efficiency’ isn’t a utopian vision of progress. It’s a dystopian nightmare where human workers are sacrificed at the altar of profitability. If we want to make AI work for us, we need to rethink how it’s being implemented. It’s time to stop pretending that AI is all about progress and start confronting the harsh reality: Efficiency isn’t about making things better—it’s about cutting jobs, cutting costs, and making more money for the corporations that hold all the cards.

What Can We Do?

So, what do we do with all this? It’s clear that the future is being shaped by AI such as ChatGPT, but it’s up to us to decide how it unfolds. We need to stop buying into the corporate spin and start questioning how AI is being used in our industries. If we allow corporations to continue using AI to eliminate jobs without regard for the human cost, we’re heading down a dangerous path.

The future of work must be one that balances technology with humanity. It’s not enough to just automate everything in the name of efficiency. We need to ensure that technology serves people, not the other way around. It’s time for a new conversation about AI—one that isn’t just about efficiency, but about fairness, opportunity, and what it means to work in the 21st century.