The chief executive of Verizon is drawing attention in corporate circles after making unusually direct warnings about the potential labor-market impact of artificial intelligence, including projections that unemployment could rise sharply if the technology accelerates at its current pace.

According to reporting cited by The Wall Street Journal, Verizon CEO Dan Schulman has argued that AI could lead to unemployment levels between 20% and 30% within the next two to five years, depending on how quickly automation expands across industries. He has also suggested that advances in robotics could eventually affect not only white-collar roles but also manual labor positions that have historically been more insulated from automation.

Schulman, who assumed leadership of Verizon in October, has taken a more explicit tone than many peers in the tech sector, calling on corporate leaders to be transparent about the scale of disruption ahead. He has emphasized that public trust in AI depends on honest communication about its economic consequences.

As part of Verizon’s internal response to technological change, the company established a $20 million fund aimed at workforce retraining and career transition support, framed as preparation for an “age of AI.” The initiative came alongside a major restructuring effort that included approximately 13,000 job cuts, which the company has described as part of broader cost and efficiency measures rather than directly tied to AI deployment.

Schulman has also encouraged expanded investment in education and reskilling programs to help workers adapt to shifting job requirements, arguing that large-scale workforce transitions will be necessary if AI adoption continues at its current trajectory.

His comments contrast with more optimistic messaging from other technology executives. Leaders such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy have emphasized that while AI may displace some roles, it is expected to create new categories of employment and improve productivity across sectors.

Public concern over AI’s economic impact appears to be growing. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found a majority of respondents believe artificial intelligence will do more harm than good, reflecting increasing uncertainty about its long-term effects on employment.

Schulman has also suggested that AI could reach artificial general intelligence capabilities sooner than many industry forecasts anticipate, potentially accelerating broader economic and technological shifts.

Verizon’s approach reflects a broader debate in the business community over how quickly AI will reshape labor markets and how companies should prepare workers for potential disruption.