Nick Stenner

Why we believe AI reshapes work more so than it reduces overall payrolls

Benson Wu, Nick Stenner, TJ Thornton

BofA Global Research contends that generative AI will primarily augment human labor and reshape specific tasks rather than cause mass job elimination, with only 2.3% of global roles facing high automation potential while 13% offer significant augmentation opportunities. The report projects a shift toward new AI specialist roles, hybrid professionals, and human-centric services in sectors like healthcare, noting that advanced economies possess the infrastructure to adapt despite risks of capital concentration and entry-level wage dispersion. Macroeconomic analysis suggests these productivity gains will be disinflationary over the long term, potentially allowing central banks flexibility on interest rates even as transition costs and uneven gains create short-term policy complexities.