Mustafa Suleyman says AI could handle routine work "sitting down at a computer"

Microsoft executive Mustafa Suleyman recently forecast that artificial intelligence could handle the bulk of routine desk‑based professional duties—such as legal work, financial analysis, project coordination and marketing—in roughly a year and a half, though it is unclear whether he meant actual job loss or merely technical capability. Analysts note that many of these occupations also require activities beyond a computer screen, including court appearances, on‑site inspections and frequent meetings. A Norwegian study found meetings occupy about one‑tenth of employees’ time and a similar share of payroll costs, with larger firms devoting more resources to them. A PwC review of global job listings reported growing demand for management, strategy and in‑person interaction for roles exposed to AI. The piece argues that such non‑digital tasks may limit how far AI can replace human workers.