A top Google executive says Silicon Valley is overstating the AI jobs apocalypse

Google SVP James Manyika pushed back against predictions of an imminent AI-driven jobs apocalypse, telling listeners he’d “take the bet” that forecasts of 50% of jobs being wiped out have not come to pass. His comments — framed alongside Amazon’s plan to hire ~11,000 engineers and other execs disputing mass displacement — could temper investor concerns that AI will trigger broad tech-sector layoffs. Still, public skepticism (a YouGov poll showing 7 in 10 Americans think AI is moving too fast) and a recent rise in tech job cuts (85,411 layoffs through April, +33% year over year) leave sentiment mixed. Manyika also flagged community worries about data-center energy costs, a potential regulatory and reputational risk for AI infrastructure players.