Ford's CEO is the latest exec to warn that AI will wipe out half of white-collar jobs
He emphasized the importance of skilled trades amid a slowdown in tech hiring.
Some CEOs have sounded the AI alarm, while others are more skeptical of mass job displacement.
Jim Farley, the CEO of Ford, pumped the brakes on opting for an office job in the AI era.
Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival on June 27 about what he coined the "essential economy," Farley reflected on his own family's journey. His grandfather, he said, was an orphan in Michigan and built a career at Ford from his early days as an hourly employee.
"Look around the room," he said in his opening remarks. "At some point, almost all of your families came from these kinds of jobs."
Farley warned, though, that the American education system focuses on four-year degrees instead of the trades, while hiring at tech firms is falling rapidly.
"Artificial intelligence is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the US," Farley said. That's why, he said, more people are looking to the skilled trades. Representatives for Ford did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.
Farley isn't the only executive sounding the alarm.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in May that AI could eliminate half of entry-level office jobs within five years. Companies and governments, Amodei said, should stop "sugarcoating" the risks of widespread job replacement in fields including technology, finance, law, and consulting.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy told employees in June to expect corporate job cuts because of generative AI (people weren't thrilled about the memo). Jassy didn't offer many specifics, but said in a later interview that the new technology will create jobs in robotics and AI.
Other leaders have a different view. Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar told BI that he thinks AI will create more jobs for college graduates, particularly when it comes to human labor. Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, also disagreed with Amodei's warning, and said AI will change everyone's job but could also crate creative opportunities.
White-collar job postings dropped 12.7% over the year in the first quarter, compared to a 11.6% dip for blue-collar jobs. The tech industry in particular has slowed down hiring. Big Tech firms' hiring of new grads fell around 50% from before the pandemic, according to venture capital firm SignalFire. Some of that has to do with AI, the report said.
GenZ is turning increasingly to blue-collar jobs, which some AI whisperers think is the safest spot in the labor market, at least for now.
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Motor Trend
25 minutes ago
- Motor Trend
How the Plymouth Barracuda Became a Mopar Muscle Car Legend
If you ask your average gearhead what the original pony car is, they'll likely point to the Mustang. Ford introduced its groundbreaking two-door to the general public at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964, and it was an immediate success. Sporting a long hood, short rear deck, and air of European sophistication, the Mustang would become the segment's standard-bearer. But the first pony car out of the corral was actually a Mopar. The Plymouth Barracuda, debuting before the Mustang in 1964, evolved from a Valiant-based model to a muscle car icon. Its high-performance era peaked with the third-generation 'Cuda, featuring potent V-8s. Today, these models, especially the Hemi 'Cuda, are highly coveted collectibles. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next Although the Barracuda would later go one to become an icon of muscle car design and performance, its origins are even humbler than Ford's Falcon-based 2+2. Unveiled on April 1, 1964, the Barracuda was Plymouth's attempt to launch a preemptive strike against Ford's upcoming sporty compact. Using a similar development tactic to keep costs down and fast-track the model into production, designers turned their attention to the Valiant, Plymouth's unassuming A-Body-based economy car, for the new model's foundation and injected some youthful exuberance into the proceedings by way of a fastback roofline and a newly available small-block V-8. The Barracuda ultimately didn't take the world by storm in the way that the Mustang did, but Plymouth's pony car did manage to leave an indelible mark on automotive history during its 10-year production run. High-Performance Makeover The '64 Barracuda did little to hide its Valiant underpinnings. Not only did it share its wheelbase and powertrain options, along with most of its bodywork and glass, but the fastback also even wore the Valiant's 'V' badge on its rear deck. Nevertheless, the Barracuda's performance intentions were cause for celebration. MotorTrend put Plymouth's new sporty compact on the cover for our May '64 issue, consigning the Mustang to a small blurb in the corner. The 1964 Barracuda's base 170-cubic-inch, 101-hp inline-six didn't get hearts racing, and the optional 145-hp 225-cubic-inch version of Mopar's slant-six didn't do much to move the needle, either, but Chrysler's all-new, 273-cubic-inch V-8 showed promise. While the small-block's 180 hp was quickly eclipsed by Ford's new 289-cubic-inch small-block V-8, the Barracuda's available A-833 four-speed manual transmission with a Hurst shift linkage gave performance enthusiasts something to get excited about. A three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission was also offered. The following year, Plymouth introduced the Commando version of the 273-cubic-inch V-8, which benefited from a more aggressive camshaft profile, a 10.5:1 compression, and a four-barrel carburetor that bumped output to 235 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. For the 1965 model year, Plymouth also unveiled the Formula S package, which included a performance-tuned suspension, larger wheels and tires, and a tachometer, all of which helped the Barracuda become a more legitimate contender in the rapidly evolving performance car landscape of the mid-1960s. During testing at Riverside Raceway in October 1964, Hot Rod clocked a 0–60-mph sprint in 8.0 seconds on the way to a 16.1 second quarter mile in a V-8-powered Barracuda Formula S outfitted with a four-speed and a limited-slip rear differential with 3.55 gears. By 1966, the Barracuda's largely Valiant-sourced interior was starting to develop a personality of its own thanks to a new instrument panel and more performance-oriented features. But it was still a more utilitarian affair than the Mustang and Chevrolet's upcoming Camaro, the latter making its debut in the fall of that year. Plymouth countered by launching the redesigned second-generation Barracuda for 1967, which boasted a longer 108-inch wheelbase and more aggressive, model-specific bodywork. Now available in fastback, notchback coupe, and convertible configurations, the second-generation Barracuda leaned further into the burgeoning muscle car craze with the availability of a new 280-hp 383-cubic-inch big-block V-8 and a wide range of high-performance hardware. No less than four high-performance V-8s were available on the option sheet by the end of the second-generation Barracuda's production run in 1969, including a 440-cube 'Super Commando' big-block V-8 dishing out 375 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. But the best was still yet to come. A Whole New Ballgame The Barracuda received a comprehensive redesign for 1970. Now underpinned by Chrysler's new E-Body platform, which it shared with the all-new, slightly larger Dodge Challenger, the Barracuda abandoned its Valiant roots in favor of a wider and longer architecture that allowed for a purposeful muscle car stance and a head-turning design. Available in coupe or convertible form, the third-generation Barracuda could still be had with one of two inline-six engines or one of four V-8s that ranged from a 318-cubic-inch small-block to a 383-cube big-block. 1970 also marked the introduction of the 'Cuda. Derived from an options package offered the year prior, 'Cuda became the marketing nomenclature for high-performance iterations of Barracuda. The standard 'Cuda powerplant was the 335-hp 383-cubic-inch big-block V-8, while a hopped-up version of the 340-cube small-block V-8, the 375-hp Super Commando big-block 440 V-8, a 390-hp 440 'Six Barrel' V-8, and the 425-hp, 426-cubic-inch Hemi V-8 were also on the menu. In an instrumented test for the May 1970 issue of MotorTrend , the Hemi-powered 'Cuda reached 60 mph from rest in 5.8 seconds on the way to a 14.0-second quarter mile. A range of Chrysler's High Impact Paint colors like Lime Light green and Vitamin C orange were also made available on the new Barracuda, along with bold graphics packages and a shaker hood option, all of which enhanced the model's appeal to performance enthusiasts. While it was still low on creature comforts, the third-generation car featured a significantly more performance-oriented cabin than its predecessor, typified by a no-nonsense gauge cluster and a Pistol Grip shifter on four-speed-equipped models. For 1971, the Barracuda received a new grille, revised taillights, new seats, and other minor updates. It was also the only year that the Barracuda was equipped with four headlights. 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The All-American Racer Inspired by Dan Gurney's All-American Racers Plymouth 'Cudas that competed in the SCCA's Trans Am road-racing series at the time, Plymouth added an AAR 'Cuda package to the options sheet for 1970. The homologation special included strobe side stripes, a matte black fiberglass hood, body-colored side mirrors and bumpers, side-exit exhaust, a ducktail rear spoiler, and unique suspension tuning. Under the hood was a high-winding, 340-cubic-inch small-block V-8 outfitted with a trio of two-barrel carburetors mounted on top of an Edelbrock aluminum intake. The combination produced 290 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, and it could be paired with either an A833 four-speed manual gearbox or a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic. In total, 2,724 examples of the 1970 AAR 'Cuda were built. A 1971 AAR 'Cuda was planned but never produced, making this a one-year model. 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Third-generation Barracudas are highly sought after today; original Hemi 'Cuda convertibles can fetch prices that venture into seven-figure territory at auction.
Motor Trend
25 minutes ago
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You've Never Experienced a Truck Stop Until You've Been to the Beyond-Wild Iowa 80 Truckstop
Off Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa is what is perhaps one of the most uniquely American establishments ever created: the Iowa 80 Truckstop, the self-proclaimed 'world's largest truck stop.' A haven for long-haul truckers, road trippers, and tourists alike, the Iowa 80 Truckstop is something you must see to believe. For instance, here are some superlative figures to start: The Iowa 80 Truckstop, the world's largest, features amenities like a movie theater, restaurants, a dentist, and more on a 225-acre site. Open since 1964, it serves 6,000 daily visitors and offers unique services and a museum. Owned by the Moon family, it's a key destination for truckers and travelers. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next 225-acre property 900 truck parking spots 250 car parking spots 20 bus parking spots 42 car and RV fuel pumps 34 diesel pumps 10 EV chargers 130,000-square-foot main building Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the stop boasts it hasn't closed its doors since first opening them in 1964. In addition to a convenience store and nine restaurants (one of which includes a buffet or à la carte), there's also a workout room, 24 private showers, truck service center, a movie theater, a library, an arcade, a laundry center, two dog parks, a pet wash, a barber shop, a massive gift shop, a custom embroidery and print shop, a chiropractor, and a dentist. Finally, its onsite museum tells the story of trucking in the U.S. It houses more than 130 antique trucks, with the oldest one built in Iowa in 1903 and the most modern one made in 1996. Admission is free. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. In short, visiting the Iowa 80 Truckstop is like being in a small city. MotorTrend stopped here for lunch as part of the cross-country road trip we took in our long-term 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan, and it was possibly the smartest move we made on the whole trip. Grab a seat at the Iowa 80 Kitchen for the tasty and filling buffet, or order a sizable burger cooked to perfection. Once you've refueled yourself, we highly encourage you to wander through the massive gift shop and truck parts store to take it all in. Here you can purchase anything and everything you'd ever need as a trucker or road tripper. Besides obvious items like snacks, chargers, and seat cushions, you can buy truck mattresses, pillows, sheepskins, DVDs, books on tape, guitars, high-visibility clothing, and a truly impressive array of ... swords. If you budget enough time, you can even get something custom vinyl embroidered. A Man, a Plan, a New Interstate Highway, Truckstop! The Iowa 80 Truckstop's history began with the passing of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 and the subsequent need to place truck stops along Interstate 80. Upon returning from service in the Korean War, founder Bill Moon worked as a district representative and location scout for Standard Oil. A bit of farmland beside the highway caught his eye. It was about three hours from Des Moines and Chicago and six hours from Detroit and Omaha. At mile marker 284, just north of Walcott, Iowa, Standard Oil broke ground. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. Opening in 1964, the early truck stop was modest compared to what it is now. Customers were welcome to a single-bay service area, a handful of fuel pumps, a communal shower, a communal and cot-filled sleeping room, and a 24-hour car and truck wrecker service. The Moon family eventually bought the truck stop from Standard Oil of Indiana (or Amoco, as it was known by then) in 1984. From then to 2004, they began turning it into the destination it is today by expanding the service center, store, and restaurant; installing individual showers; and adding amenities like the arcade and movie theater. There were even fax machines for those needing to do business before the Internet was a thing. The completion of the Iowa 80 Kitchen was a cornerstone event between 2004 and 2024, transforming the food options from a cafe to a 300-seat restaurant and buffet. Pictured, the Iowa 80 Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. Bill Moon died in 1992, so he never saw the completed work. But his legacy lives with the family members that survive him and anyone who visits the stop. Under the Iowa 80 Group, the Moon family—now in its third generation—also owns and operates the Joplin 44 Petro and Kenly 95 truck stops in Joplin, Missouri, and Kenley, North Carolina. But the Iowa 80 location is undoubtedly the family portfolio's crown jewel. A Trucker's Diagon Alley As for being 'the world's largest truck stop,' how can the family make such a claim? 'Acreage and amenities, and we've checked with other truck stops,' Iowa 80 Group spokesperson Lee Meier told MotorTrend . 'Our Kenley and Joplin locations are probably No. 2 and No. 3 in terms of size and amenities. So we're beating ourselves here. Plus, we've been called the 'world's largest' since we were branded [as] Amoco. That probably started in the '80s.' The convenience store. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. Iowa 80 serves nearly 6,000 customers per day, and that volume is split approximately 50/50 between truckers and people in passenger cars. Summertime sees more families and vacationers, but Meier said there really isn't a 'slow' time for the truck stop. Its busiest days depend on the weather and season. 'Some of our customers are fourth- or fifth-generation customers, which is very cool and pretty humbling,' Meier said. 'Sometimes we have the same customers three or four times a week, depending on routes, and other times we don't see people for a couple of months. Maybe once a year we have this same customer, but we're glad to see them however often they visit us.' The sheer variety of things to do at Iowa 80 is what keeps them all coming back, so it's a pretty great place to spend a mandated break if you're on one. There's plenty to choose from if you're there for more than one meal, and the staff keeps the showers clean and running around the clock. Meier said the on-site chiropractor and dentist are particularly popular. Both accept walk-ins and insurance, depending on the provider, and even take emergency appointments at odd hours. '[A truck driver's] truck is their [only] vehicle [when they're out on the road], and oftentimes, parking lots for normal dentist offices can't accommodate a semi-truck and trailer,' Meier said. 'So it's nice they don't have to worry about parking or getting some kind of rideshare to a dentist office in order to fix an emergency.' By far, though, the most interesting wing is the Super Truck Showroom. Here, truckers can buy seemingly any part for their trucks under the sun. Hood ornaments, trumpets, bumper guards, mud flaps, mirrors, seats, and stacks were just a few of the things we saw for sale. Up and down the aisles, truck drivers strolled with salespeople, chatting specs and prices. The Super Truck Showroom. Photo courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop. For the casual road tripper, the Iowa 80 Truckstop is a highly unique place to visit, as well. The Iowa 80 Kitchen is a relaxing place to sit, and you don't feel like you'll be chased out as soon as you finish your food. The convenience store is stocked with what looks like every snack and beverage known to humankind, and the gift shop has some truly spectacular options, such as these shoes. The stop's aesthetic is a bit of a time capsule, as you can see the different eras of development in the decor. But each is a testament to Iowa 80's continued expansion. No doubt cherished by truckers and travelers alike, the Moon family has managed to craft some permanence into an industry built on transience. — Additional photography courtesy of Iowa 80 Truckstop.
Forbes
27 minutes ago
- Forbes
AI Creating 7 In-Demand Careers That Can Future-Proof Your Job By 2030
Experts are emphasizing a new trend from AI creating job loss to AI creating new jobs and the seven ... More in-demand careers automation will invent by 2030. Are you training for an outdated job? If so, AI could replace it, and you might be unemployed by 2030. Headlines continue to warn of AI eliminating millions of positions, like Microsoft's recent layoff of 9,000 employees. But a quieter trend is brewing with a shift from emphasizing job loss to job creation. Experts recommend that you focus, not on what AI is replacing, but on what AI is quietly inventing: seven of the weirdest, most in-demand careers of the next decade. With AI creating 7 in-demand careers, some are already hiring for these positions. AI Creating 7 In-Demand Careers By 2030 The fast growth of AI has threatened the workforce for years. According to Gallup, 22% of U.S. workers are worried they will lose their jobs to generative AI—a seven percent increase since 2021. And experts have reported ways to outsmart AI those threats and future-proof your career. Much of the public debate around AI focuses on job displacement. McKinsey estimates that AI could displace up to 800 million workers by 2030. But the study also points out that AI isn't just eliminating roles. It's inventing new ones. It predicts that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates, especially in fields where technology is used to augment human capability rather than replace it. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said in a recent interview that we are heading toward a complete redefinition of work. He predicted a surge in demand for roles focused on AI supervision, creativity and problem-solving. Ford CEO Jim Farley also warns that AI could wipe out half of all white-collar jobs. But he adds that this will also create entirely new types of employment focused on human-machine collaboration. 'We're watching an evolution, not an extinction,' says Gavin Yi, CEO of Yijin Hardware, a global leader in precision CNC manufacturing. 'AI is changing what humans do, not eliminating the need for them. The future workforce will be more hybrid, combining machine intelligence with human judgment.' It's important to stay apprised of the new jobs that are opening up, instead of thinking about the old jobs that are being eliminated. Yi identifies seven new jobs that AI will invent by 2030. 1. Prompt Engineer. "Prompt engineering is to AI what coding was to the early days of the internet,' Yi explains. He says this role involves crafting highly specific prompts to guide AI tools like ChatGPT. Prompt engineers mix of logic, language and creativity, and fields like tech, law and education are already hiring prompt engineers. 2. AI Ethics Officer. Yi points out that AI touches everything from credit scoring to criminal justice. 'Ethics officers will help companies develop guidelines to ensure fairness, transparency and compliance with global regulations,' he states. 3. AI-Assisted Healthcare Technician. 'As AI begins to assist with diagnostics, medical imaging and treatment planning, technicians who can operate these systems and work with patients will become essential,' according to Yi. 4. AI Maintenance Specialist. Even though factories and logistics hubs are investing in intelligent machines, Yi points out that those machines still need human oversight. He describes them as specialists who understand both mechanical systems and AI behavior will be vital. 'The factory worker of tomorrow won't just hold a wrench,' Yi notes. "They'll monitor dashboards and algorithms too.' 5. Sustainable AI Analyst. Yi says that AI consumes enormous energy, adding that it can also be used to reduce emissions and waste. He describes analysts in this role will work to ensure AI is used efficiently and contributes to sustainability goals. 6. AI-Enhanced Creative Director. 'From fashion to film, creative leaders who can integrate AI into their workflows will be able to experiment at scale,' Yi stresses. 'These directors will act as curators, combining intuition with machine-generated content.' 7. AI Literacy Educator. Yi reminds us that professionals will be needed to train others on how to use AI effectively and ethically, now that it's embedded in everything from office tools to customer service. He believes that this includes schools, governments and private companies. A Final Takeaway On AI Creating 7 In-Demand Careers Instead of training for disappearing jobs, experts agree that it's more prudent to look forward, making sure you develop the skills for the new jobs in the next five years. If you're a student or one of today's workers, Yi says the worst mistake you can make is preparing for a job that won't exist in five years. 'In 2010, nobody trained to be a social media manager. By 2020, it was a core role in nearly every company,' he points out. 'In 2025, we're already seeing new jobs emerge. The smartest thing anyone can do is pay attention to where AI is creating opportunity, not just where it's causing fear.' Yi's comments drive home the importance of paying attention to the new trend of AI creating 7 new fields that can future-proof your career by 2030. He recommends focusing on skills that can't be easily automated. Problem-solving, adaptability, communication and a basic understanding of how AI systems work are likely to remain relevant across sectors. 'AI won't kill jobs,' Yi concludes. 'But it will make some jobs feel obsolete." People who learn how to work with AI instead of against it will come out ahead as the trend of AI creating 7 in-demand careers will continue into the future.
