Key Takeaways
- Goldman Sachs (GS) projects that generative AI could displace over 9% of the U.S. workforce—approximately 15 million workers—over the next decade.
- The U.S. Department of Commerce has partially lifted its export block on Anthropic’s powerful Mythos AI model, allowing access for roughly 100 "trusted partners" after national security reviews.
- Amazon (AMZN) Web Services CEO Matt Garman pushed back against "wipe out" fears, stating that while 50% of white-collar jobs may "change," AI will ultimately create new roles.
- Hollywood professionals are increasingly turning to AI model training (RLHF) for up to $100 per hour as traditional entertainment employment remains stagnant.
Goldman Sachs Raises Alarm on Long-Term Job Displacement
In a significant update to its labor market outlook, Goldman Sachs (GS) economist Joseph Briggs warned that generative AI adoption could displace 15 million U.S. workers over the next 10 years. This new estimate represents a jump from previous forecasts, now suggesting that more than 9% of the domestic workforce is at risk of displacement as the technology moves from "frontier labs" into the physical economy.
Despite the high number of potential job losses, the report—titled "An AI Job Apocalypse"—argues that the impact on the peak unemployment rate may be less than 1%. Economists at the bank suggest that historical trends of technological innovation typically lead to the creation of new occupations that offset initial destruction. The bank maintains that the U.S. economy currently generates 25 million to 35 million new jobs annually, which may help absorb displaced workers.
Amazon Leadership Rejects "Job Apocalypse" Narrative
Addressing the growing anxiety, Amazon (AMZN) Web Services CEO Matt Garman stated this week that doomsday predictions are "massively overblown." Speaking on the Platformer podcast, Garman argued that while half of white-collar jobs will likely be reshaped by AI, "wipe out and change are different." He compared the current shift to the introduction of Microsoft Excel, which transformed accounting without eliminating the profession.
Amazon (AMZN) continues to aggressively pivot its corporate strategy toward AI, having already eliminated roughly 30,000 positions since late 2025 to redirect capital into generative technologies. CEO Andy Jassy recently noted that while some tasks in software development and customer service are being automated, the company is actively hiring Gen Z graduates and experts to build and train new AI models.
Regulatory Thaw: Anthropic’s Mythos Model Partially Released
The U.S. Department of Commerce has eased its recent block on Anthropic’s Claude Mythos 5 model, a tool previously restricted due to its advanced cybersecurity and offensive capabilities. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick confirmed in a letter on Friday that "appropriate safeguards" are now in place, allowing 100 select companies and government agencies to resume use of the model without an export license.
The initial block was triggered by fears that "jailbreaks" could allow bad actors to leverage the model for cyberattacks. While Mythos is returning to limited use, its sibling model, Fable 5, remains restricted. This move coincides with OpenAI releasing its own GPT-5.6 model to a similar list of government-approved partners, signaling a new era of "gatekept" frontier AI access.
Hollywood Creatives Pivot to AI Training
As traditional film and television production continues to contract, The Hollywood Reporter found that a growing number of editors, writers, and executives are taking "gig work" training the very models they once feared. These workers are performing Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF), earning up to $100 per hour to refine AI outputs.
Data from job platforms indicates that AI-related arts postings have doubled in the last year, now making up nearly 11% of all arts job listings. While industry unions remain vocal in their opposition to AI, many mid-career professionals say they are taking these roles to "future-proof" their skill sets and survive a period of limited traditional employment.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.