Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman has warned that many white-collar jobs could be fully automated by artificial intelligence within the next 12 to 18 months. Earlier this year, he argued that professions involving routine computer-based work are already changing due to AI adoption. The executive stated that roles including lawyers, accountants, project managers, and marketing professionals may see significant automation in the near future.
AI Will Automate Professional Tasks
In an earlier interview with the Financial Times, Suleyman said: "I think that we're going to have a human level performance on most if not all professional tasks. So white-collar work where you're sitting down at a computer either being you know a lawyer or an accountant or a project manager or a marketing person most of those tasks will be fully automated by an AI within the next 12 to 18 months."
His comments come as technology companies continue to invest heavily in AI tools capable of coding, analyzing information, and automating workflows, while businesses experiment with integrating generative AI into daily operations.
Software Engineering Already Changing
In the interview, Suleyman also pointed to software engineering as an example of how job responsibilities are already evolving. According to him, many developers now rely on AI-assisted coding for much of their output, shifting their role toward reviewing, debugging, and making higher-level decisions.
According to Suleyman, even though AI may not eliminate the need for humans entirely, it will change how people work. In software engineering, for instance, most people are working in a "meta" role, overseeing and thinking strategically rather than actually performing tasks.
Comparison to Medical Industry
Suleyman compared this shift to the medical industry, where AI systems may one day perform diagnostic processes while doctors attend to patients. "The job of the doctor is going to go from figuring out the diagnosis to actually administering the right care at the right time and providing emotional support," Suleyman said.
Microsoft's AI Independence and Super Intelligence
Beyond workplace automation, Suleyman said his mission at Microsoft is to develop "super intelligence" and strengthen the company's AI independence. He noted that Microsoft has extended its intellectual property agreement with OpenAI through 2032 while also pursuing its own foundation models.
"Self-sufficiency means developing your own foundation model," Suleyman said, adding that Microsoft is investing in training infrastructure, compute, and data organization as part of that effort. However, he stressed that it would be wrong to rush ahead with AI without proper precautions, emphasizing the need for systems that stay aligned with human objectives.
