The Rise of Silent Firing: Job Security Concerns in the Age of AI

New terms frequently emerge in the corporate sector, such as the Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting, and Moonlighting.

A new term that has gained traction is "Silent Firing." This approach is being adopted by many in the corporate world.

What is Silent Firing? Why are companies following this trend?

Many employees worry about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence, and some experts say these fears are becoming real. Some companies are adopting a practice called "Silent Firing."

This means making employees’ jobs harder to encourage them to leave voluntarily. Experts believe the goal is to eventually replace these employees with AI.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have mandated that employees return to the office.

A significant number of employees are expressing dissatisfaction with this requirement. Companies like Amazon have made it compulsory to work in the office five days a week.

According to George Kailash, CEO of Prospere AI, this decision has led to 73 percent of employees considering leaving their jobs.

Despite reports indicating that remote work boosts productivity, companies like Amazon are insisting on in-office attendance. Kailash pointed out that such companies are engaging in the "silent firing" trend.

Many employees are concerned that AI will take their jobs, leading to a lack of focus at work.

Reports show that three out of ten employees feel disengaged.

MIT economist Daron Acemoglu worries that companies are spending heavily on AI, which he believes will only affect about 5 percent of jobs in the next decade.

He doubts that investing in AI will lead to significant increases in productivity or efficiency, arguing that a 5 percent change won’t drive an economic revolution.

Acemoglu insists that if AI is to replace human work, the technology must be reliable.