POLITICO Tech The next president’s AI problem
Aug 21, 2025
Bharat Ramamurti, former deputy director of the National Economic Council under President Biden, discusses the looming threat of AI-driven unemployment, dubbing it the biggest economic issue currently ignored. He emphasizes the urgent need for national dialogue on job displacement as we head into the next election cycle. Ramamurti also critiques historical government assistance for displaced workers, advocating for more empowering measures. The conversation dives into the complexities of taxing corporations that replace human workers with AI and the wider economic implications at play.
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AI Will Reshape Jobs Fast
- AI adoption will reshape how people work and the types of jobs available across the economy.
- Policymakers are behind and must start a national conversation about managing this transition.
Recessions Accelerate Automation
- Job-loss data from AI will be noisy and firms may cite AI as a convenient explanation for cuts.
- Recessions accelerate automation, so job losses could cluster in the next year or two.
Empower Workers Upfront
- Don’t rely mainly on retrospective rescue like poor reskilling or one-off payments to displaced workers.
- Empower workers on the front end through structures that give them voice and bargaining power.