THE DAILY SCRAPE
Your rundown on AI and what it means for the American Workforce
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Two new studies sharpen the AI jobs debate from opposite ends: Stanford finds a 16% relative employment drop for 22-to-25-year-olds in AI-exposed work, while BLS data shows unemployment actually lower in exposed occupations than elsewhere. ClickUp's 22% layoff and OpenAI's $250M research pledge show firms acting on the disruption thesis before the macro numbers confirm it. Pope Leo weighs in with a manifesto on dignity and work, and Randstad reports AI certifications now move salaries.
Top Stories
The Flaws in ‘Mass Layoffs for AI Productivity’ Are Obvious Now
ClickUp CEO Zeb Evans laid off 22% of his workforce last week, claiming it wasn’t cost-cutting but a “radical adopt of AI” that will enable million-dollar salaries for remaining employees who create “outsized impact using AI.” The move follows a familiar pattern of tech CEOs justifying mass layoffs as productivity upgrades, though the logic of paying seven-figure salaries to “babysit” AI agents remains unclear. Inc.
It’s time to address the looming crisis in entry-level work.
Stanford researchers found that workers aged 22-25 in AI-exposed occupations experienced a 16% relative decline in employment after generative AI’s spread, while more experienced workers in the same jobs didn’t see similar drops. This suggests companies are using AI to replace precisely the junior tasks that have traditionally served as entry points to careers, potentially breaking the first rung of the career ladder. MIT Tech Review
A reality check on the AI jobs hysteria
Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows unemployment rates are actually lower for jobs most exposed to AI than for occupations less threatened by the technology, with no signs of workers fleeing to manual labor roles. Only one in five companies currently use AI in any business function, leading economists to conclude that while disruption may come, it hasn’t arrived yet and policymakers have time to plan. MIT Tech Review
"Magnifica Humanitas" warns about AI's threats to human dignity, the value of work, and a "crisis of truth," while calling for verifiable worker protections, algorithmic regulation, and a UN role in oversight. The WSJ editorial board welcomes his defense of human agency but rejects his "faith in a beneficent state," arguing government control tends to entrench incumbents and that repressive regimes already weaponize AI for surveillance. WSJ
OpenAI’s Foundation to Spend $250M on Research into AI’s Impact on Economy
OpenAI's nonprofit foundation will grant $250 million to study AI's effects on the economy and jobs — measuring employment, wages, transitions, and firm behavior, then helping workers navigate disruption. It's an early piece of the foundation's March pledge to disburse $1 billion over 12 months; co-lead Divya Siddarth framed the work around deep uncertainty, saying they assume a massive economic impact with "little idea of what that will be." Financial Times
AI certifications are fast-tracking salary and career growth, Randstad finds
A recent Randstad study highlights a strong demand for AI skills in the workforce, leading to significant salary increases and career advancement opportunities for certified individuals. HR Dive
Videos & Podcasts
▶ AI Automation, Job Loss Fears and Where New Work Emerges— Bloomberg Television
▶ Why are AI labs hiring philosophers?— The Tech Report
Quick Scan
Why healthcare’s AI future requires patient leadership — The Next Web
Dell and H2O.ai target the token — SiliconANGLE
The boardroom wants answers on AI. Are you ready? — Fortune
AWS launches Agentic Shopping Assistant to help retailers build AI tools — SiliconANGLE
Payroll startup Remote says it grew revenue 50% per employee without adding headcount — AI
My new favorite Windows app made my PC safer and more reliable - and it’s free — ZDNet
For the critical middle market, Microsoft and Dell want to make AI adoption less daunting — SiliconANGLE
‘It isn’t canceled’: Inside the White House divisions on AI - Politico — World Economic Forum
AI training data provider Human Archive raises $8.2M — SiliconANGLE
The Daily Scrape
Thursday, May 28, 2026