- By Chetna Shree
- Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:54 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on Thursday warned that Artificial Intelligence could automate a majority of the tasks performed in white-collar jobs within the next 12 to 18 months. According to Suleyman, white-collar jobs that involve computer-based work, such as lawyers, accountants, project managers, and marketers, are at risk of being automated by AI.
In an exclusive interview with the Financial Times, Suleyman said Microsoft is aiming to dominate the enterprise market by developing what he described as “professional-grade AGI", AI systems capable of performing nearly every task currently performed by a human professional. By developing these systems, Suleyman said that companies would be able to fully automate routine tasks of human professionals who work primarily on computers.
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White-Collar Jobs Will Be Fully Automated By AI: Suleyman
The Microsoft AI CEO predicted significant sweeping changes to the workforce in the near future, asserting that white-collar jobs that involve sitting in front of a computer could be affected.
"White-collar jobs- those sitting in front of computers, whether lawyers, accountants, project managers or marketers- most of these tasks will be fully automated by AI within the next 12 to 18 months," he said.
AI Model Creation To Become Easier With Technology Advancements
Mustafa Suleyman further stated that as Artificial Intelligence technology evolves, the process of building new models will become significantly easier and more accessible. He likened the future process of building AI systems to producing a podcast or writing a blog post, suggesting that both individuals and organisations will soon be able to design models tailored to their specific requirements.
Furthermore, Suleyman projected that within the next two to three years, AI agents will likely reach a level of efficiency where they can manage complex workflows across large institutions, News18 reported.
Microsoft Aims To Develop Its Own AI Models, Achieve 'AI Self-Sufficiency'
The Microsoft AI CEO further indicated that the company plans to prioritise developing its own AI models, reducing reliance on OpenAI following a revised agreement between the two entities. According to Suleyman, Microsoft is aiming for "true AI self-sufficiency" with plans to debut new in-house AI models as early as 2026.