Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft’s artificial intelligence division, said in an interview with the Financial Times that AI systems are advancing quickly enough to perform most white-collar tasks at a human level within the next year to year and a half.

According to Suleyman, the technology is approaching “human-level performance on most, if not all, professional tasks.” He specifically pointed to roles centered around computer-based work, including lawyers, accountants, project managers, and marketing professionals.

“Most of those tasks will be fully automated by an AI within the next 12 to 18 months,” Suleyman said, according to reporting by Business Insider.

He noted that the shift is already visible in specialized fields such as software engineering, where AI tools are increasingly integrated into daily workflows. Suleyman described the evolving dynamic between workers and AI systems as a significant change that has accelerated in just the past six months.

The comments come as Microsoft continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and product development. The company has committed billions of dollars toward expanding its AI capabilities, including integration across its enterprise software platforms.

At the same time, Microsoft has conducted multiple rounds of layoffs in recent months, including reductions within its Xbox gaming division. Software engineering roles — a core component of game development — have been among the positions affected across the broader technology sector as AI-assisted coding tools become more widely adopted.

Suleyman’s forecast underscores growing debate over how quickly automation could alter the labor market, particularly in professional sectors historically viewed as insulated from technological displacement. While some industry leaders argue AI will enhance productivity rather than eliminate roles, others warn that rapid advancement may outpace workforce adaptation.

Whether the timeline proves accurate remains to be seen, but the remarks signal that major technology firms anticipate continued acceleration in AI capability and deployment across white-collar industries.