Rishi Sunak Warns AI Will Reshape Jobs, Urges Government Support

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally transform the labour market, eliminating some jobs while redesigning many others, during his address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Speaking to policymakers and industry leaders, he stressed that governments must not hinder innovation but actively support workforce transitions through reskilling and policy interventions.
“AI is going to change the labour market. Some jobs will go. I think many more will be redesigned,” Sunak remarked, drawing historical parallels where societies thrived by managing technological shifts effectively. He advocated equipping workers for new roles with confidence, emphasizing education reform and social safety nets to mitigate displacement anxiety.
Sunak highlighted AI’s dual impact: displacing repetitive tasks while creating opportunities in advanced sectors and digital services. Citing rapid adoption at firms like Anthropic, he noted entry-level roles in coding and customer service are most vulnerable, urging proactive global strategies.
At the summit themed ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya’ (welfare for all), his remarks amplified discussions on responsible AI governance and inclusive growth. Sunak praised India as the ideal venue for such dialogues, given its tech talent and democratic scale.