One of the biggest fears about artificial intelligence (AI) has been the extent to which it can reduce or even remove the roles of large swathes of employees. The debate is now zeroing in on the disproportionate threat it poses to young people entering, or about to enter, the job market.
It’s no longer about AI stealing jobs. It’s about AI smothering careers in their cradle.
Dr Laurel Teo is head of society and culture at the Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore. She studies the Future of Work and impact of technological changes on people in the workplace.
This piece was first published in The Straits Times on 21 Aug 2025.