London Tech Week Founders Weigh In: How AI Is Reshaping Jobs and Work Efficiency

London Tech Week, one of the UK’s premier technology conferences, convened at the Olympia Exhibition Centre, drawing in founders and tech leaders to discuss the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on their industries and the broader job market. During the event, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed concerns raised by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei regarding AI's potential to eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs. To delve deeper into these issues, I spoke with four founders who shared their perspectives on how AI is transforming their work and its implications for employment. Isa Mutlib, founder of CoTalent AI, leverages AI extensively to streamline processes such as coding and content creation. According to Mutlib, AI adoption saves his company, which specializes in customizable AI agents, between 50% and 70% of time on various tasks. This rapid deployment allows CoTalent AI to deliver minimum viable products to clients within days, a feat that once took months. Mutlib's view on AI's impact on jobs is nuanced—he expresses short-term pessimism due to immediate job losses, particularly in roles that can be automated. However, he remains long-term optimistic, believing that AI will create new opportunities and skill requirements, similar to past technological shifts. He emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt their skill sets and redefine job roles to stay relevant. Husayn Kassai, founder of Quench AI, warns that AI poses a significant threat to entry-level positions in fields like programming, customer service, and law. Kassai points out that junior roles, traditionally tasked with research and administrative duties, are being increasingly automated. This shift makes early career progression more challenging and accelerates the "automation trend" that has been observed over the last few decades. According to Kassai, this trend contributes to underemployment and low-wage employment globally. Despite these concerns, he notes that AI won't replace human interaction and relationship-building. Quench AI widely uses AI tools across its operations, including Cursor for engineering tasks, enabling a small team to accomplish what once required many more hands. Steven Kennington, cofounder of Lumico, a firm that develops software and hardware, sees AI as a powerful tool for solving complex technical and mathematical problems. His engineers often use AI platforms like GitHub Copilot, which he likens to having an experienced programmer available for consultation. Kennington fears that "vibe coding"—where users describe what they want in plain language, and AI generates the code—could lead to less skilled developers implementing AI-generated solutions without a deep understanding of the underlying logic. This practice, he believes, will exacerbate a skills gap, particularly among younger workers who might opt for AI shortcuts instead of developing essential skills. Kennington asserts that experienced engineers will remain valuable, as they know when and how to effectively integrate AI into their workflows. Matthew Sarre, cofounder of Jumpstart, a talent platform for startups, uses AI, specifically ChatGPT, for a wide range of tasks, from generating ideas for social media posts to strategizing marketing and sales initiatives. Sarre doesn't foresee AI directly impacting his own role or the jobs within his company in the immediate future. However, he anticipates short-term layoffs for low-skilled positions. In the long term, though, Sarre believes AI will complement rather than replace human jobs, drawing parallels to historical technological advancements. He views AI as a "dumb muscle" that relies heavily on human oversight, even as it produces impressive results. Despite his optimism, Sarre acknowledges the fast-paced entry of new AI agents into the market, which might challenge his predictions. Industry insiders agree that AI will disrupt the job market, but opinions vary on the extent and nature of this disruption. Some founders, like Mutlib, see both immediate challenges and long-term benefits, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Kassai highlights the risks to entry-level jobs and suggests that companies must prepare for a workforce that integrates AI without losing essential human skills. Kennington’s concern is about the quality of work and ensuring that reliance on AI does not undermine the development of foundational skills. Sarre, while initially optimistic, recognizes the potential for rapid changes in the AI landscape and the uncertainty they bring. Nvidia, a leading chipmaker and AI pioneer, continues to push the boundaries of AI technology, with Huang advocating its transformative potential. Founders like Mutlib and Sarre, who see AI as a complementary tool, reinforce the idea that the future of work will require a blend of machine efficiency and human expertise. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday business operations, the ability to navigate and leverage these technologies will be crucial for both individuals and organizations.